[Effects of ketogenic diet on lipid metabolism in children with intractable epilepsy]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Neurology
• Metabolic Disorders
• Cardiovascular Health

Background:

• Intractable epilepsy in children often requires specialized dietary interventions.
• The ketogenic diet (KD) is a well-established treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy.
• Potential long-term effects of KD on cardiovascular health require careful evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of the ketogenic diet (KD) on lipid metabolism in children with intractable epilepsy.
• To assess the risk of atherosclerosis in these children by analyzing changes in their lipid profiles.
• To evaluate specific lipid parameters and ratios indicative of cardiovascular risk.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 47 children with intractable epilepsy treated with KD.
• Measurement of serum lipid levels (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL) before and after 3 months of KD.
• Calculation of atherosclerosis risk indicators: LDL/HDL ratio, arterial stiffness index (AI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and lipid comprehensive index (LCI).

Main Results:

• A significant increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels was observed after 3 months of KD treatment (P<0.05).
• The LDL/HDL ratio showed a statistically significant increase (P<0.05), indicating a higher risk.
• While triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL levels showed non-significant trends, and other indices (AI, AIP, LCI) increased, only the LDL/HDL ratio reached statistical significance.

Conclusions:

• Ketogenic diet (KD) therapy in children with intractable epilepsy may elevate LDL cholesterol levels.
• The observed increase in the LDL/HDL ratio suggests a potential heightened risk of atherosclerosis.
• Further research is warranted to monitor long-term cardiovascular outcomes in children on KD.