Can children with hyperlipidemia receive ketogenic diet for medication-resistant epilepsy?

Yeou-Mei Christiana Liu, Helen Lowe, Maria M Zak, Jeff Kobayashi, Valerie W Chan, Elizabeth J Donner

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. christiana.liu@sickkids.ca

Journal of child neurology 2013 Apr

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The very-high-fat ketogenic diet can worsen lipid levels in children with pre-existing hyperlipidemia by increasing serum lipoproteins and reducing antiatherogenic high-density lipoproteins. A retrospective chart review of 160 children treated with the ketogenic diet from September 2000 to May 2011 was performed. Twelve children with pre-existing hyperlipidemia were identified. Lipid levels including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein were measured pre-diet and at 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment. During treatment, there was a significant reduction in mean total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein were normalized in 8 and 7 children at 6 months; and 9 and 9 children at 12 months respectively. At 6 and 12 months, tot cholesterol/HDL ratio was normalized in 5 and 7 children respectively. Diet modifications were made to achieve healthy lipid levels. By extrapolating the data, it suggests lipid levels can be controlled in children and adults with ketogenic diet treatment.

Citation

Yeou-Mei Christiana Liu, Helen Lowe, Maria M Zak, Jeff Kobayashi, Valerie W Chan, Elizabeth J Donner. Can children with hyperlipidemia receive ketogenic diet for medication-resistant epilepsy? Journal of child neurology. 2013 Apr;28(4):479-83