Low-glycemic-index treatment: a liberalized ketogenic diet for treatment of intractable epilepsy.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Uncontrolled clinical case series
PubMed 16344529 · doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000187071.24292.9e
What was done
Twenty patients with intractable epilepsy were treated with a low-glycemic-index regimen that allowed a more liberal total carbohydrate intake restricted to foods with a glycemic index below 50.
What was found
Ten of 20 patients experienced a greater than 90% reduction in seizure frequency.
Why it matters
This study suggests a less restrictive low-glycemic diet could serve as a viable alternative to the classic ketogenic diet for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Limits
The study is a very small (n = 20), uncontrolled case series without a control group or randomization. The abstract provides no data on patient demographics, follow-up duration, adverse effects, or outcomes for the remaining 10 patients.
Cited by
- supports Low glycemic index therapy produces an anti-seizure therapeutic effect despite producing little to no elevation in blood ketones.