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[Prospective study of ketogenic diet in treatment of children with global developmental delay]

Deng-Na Zhu1, Ping Li, Jun Wang

  • 1Department of Children's Rehabilitation, Third Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China. zhudengna@126.com.

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi = Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics
|October 20, 2017
PubMed

Insights

The ketogenic diet (KD) significantly improved neurobehavioral development, emotional, and social behaviors in children with global developmental delay (GDD). This intervention showed few adverse effects, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic option.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Global developmental delay (GDD) presents significant challenges in neurobehavioral development, emotional regulation, and social functioning.
  • Current therapeutic strategies for GDD often yield limited improvements in these critical areas.
  • The ketogenic diet (KD), known for its neurological effects, has not been extensively studied in the context of GDD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of the ketogenic diet (KD) in enhancing neurobehavioral development.
  • To assess the impact of KD on emotional and social behaviors in children with GDD.
  • To evaluate the effect of KD on the overall life abilities of children diagnosed with GDD.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective case-control study involving hospitalized children with GDD.
  • Random assignment to either a KD group (modified Atkins diet + rehabilitation) or a conventional treatment group (rehabilitation only).
  • Assessment using the Gesell Developmental Scale, CITSEA/CBCL, and S-M scale at baseline and at 3, 6, and 9 months.

Main Results:

  • The KD group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in adaptive, fine motor, and language quotients compared to the control group (P<0.05).
  • Enhanced scores in emotional and social behaviors (CITSEA/CBCL) were observed in the KD group (P<0.05).
  • Significant improvements in social life abilities (S-M scale) were noted in the KD group after 9 months (P<0.05), with mild side effects like diarrhea and urinary stones.

Conclusions:

  • The ketogenic diet (KD) is an effective intervention for improving neurobehavioral development in children with GDD.
  • KD positively impacts behavioral and emotional outcomes in this population.
  • The KD approach demonstrates a favorable safety profile with manageable adverse effects.
Abstract

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