Ketogenic diet for Drug-resistant Epilepsy

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Ketogenic diet for Drug-resistant Epilepsy

November 05, 2019

Ketogenic diet for Drug-resistant Epilepsy | healthbiztips

Keto diet, an Alternative Option for Drug-resistant Seizure

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan | health blog

Ketogenic diet has become an alternative treatment for epileptic people when conventional antiseizure medicine fail to prevent an episode, but how can such a dietary regimen alleviate a serious medical condition?

The utilization of ketogenic diet for drug-resistant epilepsy is predominantly utilized in children, although it is not recommended for adults.

The Epilepsy Foundation claimed that:

• Over half of children who go on the diet have at least a 50% reduction in the number of their seizures.
• Some children, usually 10-15%, even become seizure-free.

According to this agency, keto diet proves helpful in medical conditions such as:

• infantile spasms
• Rett syndrome
• tuberous sclerosis complex
• Dravet syndrome
• Doose syndrome
• GLUT-1 deficiency

Studies by Rogawski and colleagues sheds some light into this topic:

Although the exact mechanism of ketogenic diet's success in averting seizure episode is hard to point out, it is known that keto diet's fundamental principle of mimicking the state of starvation induced by fasting is a key factor. However, do note that this diet does not withhold food intake, Instead, it drastically cuts down the portion of carbohydrate a person eats and replaces this main energy source with fat.

Without enough glucose to break down from the scanty carbohydrate, the body switches to fat as it's fuel. Fat is broken down and the liver produces ketone to serve as energy source. At this state, the person is said to be under the state of ketosis in which these ketone bodies floods the bloodstream.

The presence of ketone bodies have several metabolic effects that greatly benefit epileptic people:

• increase in the production of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter
• decrease in the production of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter
• Increase production of adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter
• Increase in the mitochondrial biogenesis in the hippocampus
• Increase in reduced gutathione (GSH)

Since each patient has varying medical case and history, it is worth knowing that keto diet is not effective for all people so make it a point to consult your health care provider before starting it.


Resources:

Rogawski, M. A., Löscher, W., & Rho, J. M. (2016). Mechanisms of Action of Antiseizure Drugs and the Ketogenic Diet. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 6(5), a022780. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a022780

Epilepsy Foundation. Ketogenic Diet. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/dietary-therapies/ketogenic-diet

12 Facts about Phenytoin

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12 Facts about Phenytoin

November 23, 2018

Phenytoin is an anti-epileptic drug used to treat and prevent seizure. Want to know more facts about it?

12 Facts about Phenytoin

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

1. Phenytoin had been used since 1938 to treat seizure.

2. Do not stop taking phenytoin abruptly unless directed by your doctor because this can aggravate seizure attacks.

3. Long term use of phenytoin can reduce Vitamin D in the body making the individual prone to skeletal problems such as fracture and osteoporosis.

4. Phenytoin can reduce insulin release which can lead to high blood sugar level.

5. Taking phenytoin can make some people suicidal.

6. Phenytoin can be taken either with or without food.

7. If you miss one dose of phenytoin and it's almost time for your next dose, do not take double dose.

8. Phenytoin decreases the effectivenes of birth control pills.

9. Calcium impedes the absorption of phenytoin.

10. Nystagmus, or the involuntary jerking of the eyes, is the most common side effect of phenytoin in children, but does not affect the child's vision.

11. About half of children taking phenytoin experience swelling of the gums.

12 . Individuals taking high dose of phenytoin may experience excessive growth of hair of the face and body.

11 Facts about Seizure in Newborn Babies

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11 Facts about Seizure in Newborn Babies

November 23, 2018

11 Facts about Seizure in Newborn Babies

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

1. Seizure happens when clusters of neurons get excited uncontrollably all at once.

2. Seizure is usually the first sign of an underlying neurological problem in newborn.

3. 1 to 5 in every 1000 live births are afflicted with neonatal seizure.

4. Preterm babies have higher incidence of seizure compared to term birth babies.

5. If seizure is left untreated, it can cause further damage to the developing brain of the newborn.

6. Seizure in newborn has many etiology, like:
acidosis
hypoglycemia
hypocalcemia
hypomagnesemia
stroke
intracranial hemorrhage
meningitis
hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

7. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is the most common cause of seizure in term birth babies.

8. Continous video-electroencephalogram (cEEG) monitoring is the gold standard to diagnose neonatal seizure.

9. Most cases of neonatal seizure are asymptomatic.

10. Electroclinical dissociation describes the phenomenon when a seizure activity is detected by cEEG, but the baby does not show any clinical symptom of a seizure attack.

11. Prognosis of seizure in newborn is based on etiology. Seizure caused by hypocalcemia has better prognosis than seizure caused by hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.