Efficacy of and Patient Compliance with a Ketogenic Diet in Adults with Intractable Epilepsy: A Meta-Analysis.
- Author:
Fang YE
1
;
Xiao Jia LI
;
Wan Lin JIANG
;
Hong Bin SUN
;
Jie LIU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Meta-Analysis ; Original Article
- Keywords: ketogenic diet; adult; intractable epilepsy; efficacy; compliance
- MeSH: Adult*; Compliance; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; Epilepsy*; Humans; Ketogenic Diet*; Patient Compliance*
- From:Journal of Clinical Neurology 2015;11(1):26-31
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite the successful use of a ketogenic diet in pediatric epilepsy, its application in adults has been limited. The aim of this meta-analysis was to summarize the findings of relevant published studies in order to identify the efficacy of and compliance with a ketogenic diet and its main subtypes (i.e., classic ketogenic diet and modified Atkins diet) in adults with intractable epilepsy, and to provide useful information for clinical practice. METHODS: Electronic searches of PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and the ISI Web of Science were conducted to identify studies of the efficacy of and patient compliance with a ketogenic diet in adults with intractable epilepsy; the included studies were reviewed. Meta-analyses were performed using STATA to determine combined efficacy rates and combined rates of compliance with the ketogenic diet and its main subtypes. RESULTS: In total, 12 studies qualified for inclusion, and data from 270 patients were evaluated.The results of the meta-analysis revealed combined efficacy rates of all types of ketogenic diet, a classical ketogenic diet, and a modified Atkins diet were 42%, 52%, and 34%, respectively; the corresponding combined compliance rates were 45%, 38%, and 56%. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that a ketogenic diet is a promising complementary therapy in adult intractable epilepsy, and that while a classical ketogenic diet may be more effective, adult patients are likely to be less compliant with it than with a modified Atkins diet.
