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Effects of ketogenic diet on vascular function

M Kapetanakis1, P Liuba2, M Odermarsky2

  • 1Department of Paediatric Neurology, Pediatric Child Neurology, Skåne University Hospital, 22185 Lund, Sweden.

European Journal of Paediatric Neurology : EJPN : Official Journal of the European Paediatric Neurology Society
|April 8, 2014
PubMed

Insights

The ketogenic diet (KD) may initially affect vascular health in children with epilepsy, but these changes in lipids and arterial function appear reversible after two years. Long-term KD effects on vascular atherogenic processes require further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Metabolic Disorders
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • The ketogenic diet (KD) is a recognized treatment for drug-resistant childhood epilepsy.
  • Long-term effects of the high-fat, low-carbohydrate KD on vascular atherogenic and biochemical markers are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term vascular and biochemical effects of the ketogenic diet in children with epilepsy.
  • To assess changes in carotid artery intima-media thickness (cIMT), distensibility, compliance, and blood lipid profiles.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 26 children on KD at 1 year and 13 at 2 years.
  • High-resolution ultrasound assessed cIMT, distensibility, and compliance.
  • Analyzed blood lipids (HDL-C, LDL-C, TC, apoA, apoB) and hsCRP.

Main Results:

  • A decrease in carotid distensibility and increases in LDL-C, apoB, and lipid ratios were observed at 3 and 12 months.
  • These vascular and lipid changes were not statistically significant at 24 months.
  • No significant changes in cIMT, BMI, or hsCRP were detected.

Conclusions:

  • Initial alterations in lipids and arterial function during the first year of KD treatment seem reversible.
  • The long-term (24 months) KD treatment did not show significant adverse vascular or biochemical changes in this cohort.
Abstract

Keywords:
Arterial elasticityKetogenic dietLipidemia

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