Review Article
The Use of Ketogenic Diet in Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy
Table 1
Types of ketogenic diets [
4].
| | Macronutrient content (% total daily calories) |
Comments | Fat | Protein | Carbohydrate |
| | | | | (i) 4 : 1 or 3 : 1 (fat : nonfat) ratio | Classic ketogenic diet | LCT: 85–90 |
6–8 | 2–4 | (ii) Unpalatable poor compliance | | | | | (iii) GI effects: constipation |
| | | | | (i) ~3 : 1 (fat : nonfat) ratio | MCT diet | MCT: 71 |
10 | 19 | (ii) Easier to prepare | (iii) Greater flexibility with protein and carbohydrate allowance | | | | | (iv) GI effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea in ~50% patients |
| Modified MCT diet | LCT: 40–50 |
10–20 | 5–10 | (i) Incorporates LCT and MCT | MCT: 30 | (ii) Fewer GI effects |
| | | | | (i) No fasting or hospital stay | Modified Atkins diet | 60–70 |
20–30 | 5 | (ii) No calorie restrictions | | | | | (iii) Less dietitian support |
| Low-glycemic-index treatment diet | 60–70 |
20–30 | 10 | (i) Only low-glycemic-index carbohydrates allowed for 10% daily carbohydrates | (ii) Details of how diet is prescribed are not widely known [1] |
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LCT: long-chain triglycerides; MCT: medium-chain triglycerides; GI: gastrointestinal.
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