Eponyms in medical nutrition and nutraceuticals: The Ketogenic diet for seizure control

This review forms part of a series on Eponyms in Medical Nutrition and Nutraceuticals. The Ketogenic Diet (KD), a therapeutic diet for seizure control in intractable epilepsy, works on the principle of producing ketones as the body's main energy source as opposed to glucose by means of a high fat diet with limited protein and minimal carbohydrate (CHO). A >90% reduction in seizure frequency ranging from 31% to 86% has been recorded in patients following the KD for 3 months and >6 years respectively. Short- and long-term side effects include dehydration, kidney stones, and restricted growth with 82% of children following the KD for >6 years being under the 10 th centile for height and weight. Side effects of the KD must be weighed up against benefits in terms of quality of life gained through reduction in seizures.