Abstract 2054

Introduction

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate protein, low-carbohydrate diet for the treatment of difficult-to-controls seizures. The "classic" diet has been in use since the 1920s. Two recent prospective studies have shown that the diet is more effective than many of the new anticonvulsant medications in decreasing difficult-to-control seizures. It is well tolerated by children and families when it is effective. Concerns have been raised with regard to the nutritional adequacy of the diet and its effect on growth and development. This study examined if children placed on a restricted ketogenic diet grow at a normal rate over a one year period.

Methods

158 patients, ages three months to 10 years were started on the "classic" ketogenic diet at Johns Hopkins. Heights and weights were obtained at baseline and at 1 year post-diet initiation. The children were grouped according to age: 0-3, 4-7, 7-10 years. The heights and weights were converted to Z-scores using the National Center for Health Statistics Growth Curves. Analyses were performed using (SAS).

Results

Children's height increased during the first year on the diet in all three age groups. As expected, children's weights did not change over the first year in all three age groups. All children grew within 2 SDs of the norm during the first year. No significant differences were found based on sex (t-test). However, the 0-3 age group gained significantly less weight than the other two groups (ANOVA GLM p<.001).

Conclusions

Children grew taller (within normal parameters) during the first year on the ketogenic diet. As expected, children did not gain weight during the first year.

This study was partly funded by the Charlie Foundation, Santa Monica, California.