Effects of ketogenic diets on cancer-related variables: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Cancer is a global health concern influenced by genetics, environment and lifestyle choices. Recent research shows that a ketogenic diet (KD) might ease cancer symptoms and reduce tumour size. We hypothesised that the KD could result in improvements in cancer-related variables. Therefore, this study aims to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the KD's efficacy for patients with cancer. The databases PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science, CINAHL and Open Grey were utilised for conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis. The analysis was limited to randomised controlled trials with adult participants aged 18 years and above. Levels of glucose, cholesterol, insulin-like growth factor 1, weight and quality of life were evaluated following the KD. After identifying 596 articles in the initial search, eight studies, lasting between 4 and 16 weeks, were included in the systematic review and seven in the meta-analysis. The KD led to decreased glucose levels in patients with cancer but did not show significant improvements in cholesterol, insulin-like growth factor 1, weight or quality of life. Based on the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis, there is insufficient evidence to establish a definitive link between the KD and cancer-related parameters. While some studies suggest potential benefits in terms of some outcomes and tumour size reduction, further research is required to fully comprehend the effects of this diet.

Ketogenic diet in pharmacoresistant epilepsies: a clinical nutritional assessment / Dieta cetogênica na epilepsia fármaco-resistente: avaliação clínica-nutricional

Abstract Background Epilepsies are among the most prevalent chronic neurological diseases, usually beginning in childhood. About 30% of children with epilepsies develop seizures that are difficult to control with medication. Recurrent epileptic seizures hinder diet intake, impairing the nutritional status. Although non-pharmacological interventions (e.g., ketogenic diet therapy) can improve epileptic seizure frequency, few studies analyzed their impact on the nutritional status of children and adolescents with epilepsies. Objective The aim was to evaluate the effects of a ketogenic diet on the nutritional status and clinical course of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsies. Methods This cross-sectional study included patients under 18 years of age followed up at the Ketogenic Diet Ambulatory Clinic of the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira between December 2015 and December 2021. Socioeconomic, clinical, nutritional, and laboratory data were collected from medical records at different time points during the ketogenic diet. Results The sample comprised 49 patients aged between 5 months and 17 years (median = 4.4 years), mostly male (62.1%), and from Recife and the metropolitan region (51%). Underweight patients (BMI-for-age) improved their nutritional status in six months. However, patients who were normal weight and overweight maintained their nutritional status. Dyslipidemia was a common and short-term adverse effect. Moreover, the treatment decreased epileptic seizure frequency and antiseizure medication intake. Conclusion The ketogenic diet prevented malnutrition from worsening and reduced epileptic seizures and antiseizure medication intake.

Resumo Antecedentes A epilepsia, uma das doenças neurológicas crônicas mais prevalentes, tem geralmente início na infância. Cerca de 30% das crianças com epilepsia desenvolvem crises de difícil controle medicamentoso. As crises epilépticas recorrentes dificultam a ingestão alimentar, prejudicando o estado nutricional. Intervenções não farmacológicas, como a terapia com dieta cetogênica, podem melhorar a frequência das crises epilépticas, mas existem poucos estudos sobre a repercussão no estado nutricional da criança/adolescente. Objetivo Avaliar o efeito da terapia cetogênica sobre o estado nutricional e a evolução clínica da epilepsia fármaco-resistente. Métodos Estudo tipo corte transversal envolvendo menores de 18 anos acompanhados no Ambulatório de Dieta Cetogênica do Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira entre dezembro de 2015 e dezembro de 2021. Dados socioeconômicos, clínicos, nutricionais e laboratoriais foram coletados nos prontuários dos pacientes em vários momentos da terapia cetogênica. Resultados A amostra foi composta por 49 pacientes com idades entre cinco meses e 17 anos (mediana = 4,4 anos), a maioria do sexo masculino (62,1%) e procedentes de Recife e região metropolitana (51%). Pacientes com baixo peso (de acordo com o IMC para idade) melhoraram seu estado nutricional em seis meses. No entanto, os pacientes com peso adequado e com sobrepeso mantiveram seu estado nutricional. A dislipidemia foi um efeito adverso frequente e de curta duração. Além disso, o tratamento reduziu a frequência de crises epilépticas e a dose de fármacos anticrises. Conclusão A dieta cetogênica preveniu o agravamento da desnutrição e reduziu as crises epilépticas e a dosagem de fármacos anticrises.

Nutritional Intervention Through Ketogenic Diet in GLUT1 Deficiency Syndrome.

Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) deficiency syndrome (DS) is a metabolic brain disorder caused by a deficiency resulting from SLC2A1 gene mutation and is characterized by abnormal brain metabolism and associated metabolic encephalopathy. Reduced glucose supply to the brain leads to brain damage, resulting in delayed neurodevelopment in infancy and symptoms such as eye abnormalities, microcephaly, ataxia, and rigidity. Treatment options for GLUT1 DS include ketogenic diet (KD), pharmacotherapy, and rehabilitation therapy. Of these, KD is an essential and the most important treatment method as it promotes brain neurodevelopment by generating ketone bodies to produce energy. This case is a focused study on intensive KD nutritional intervention for an infant diagnosed with GLUT1 DS at Gangnam Severance Hospital from May 2022 to January 2023. During the initial hospitalization, nutritional intervention was performed to address poor intake via the use of concentrated formula and an attempt was made to introduce complementary feeding. After the second hospitalization and diagnosis of GLUT1 DS, positive effects on the infant's growth and development, nutritional status, and seizure control were achieved with minimal side effects by implementing KD nutritional intervention and adjusting the type and dosage of anticonvulsant medications. In conclusion, for patients with GLUT1 DS, it is important to implement a KD with an appropriate ratio of ketogenic to nonketogenic components to supply adequate energy. Furthermore, individualized and intensive nutritional management is necessary to improve growth, development, and nutritional status.

Ketogenic therapy in childhood and adolescence: recommendations of the Brazilian experts group / Terapia cetogênica na infância e adolescência: recomendações do grupo de especialistas brasileiros

Abstract Ketogenic dietary therapies (KDTs) are a safe and effective treatment for pharmacoresistant epilepsy in children. There are four principal types of KDTs: the classic KD, the modified Atkins diet (MAD), the medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet, and the low glycemic index diet (LGID). The International Ketogenic Diet Study Group recommends managing KDTs in children with epilepsy. However, there are no guidelines that address the specific needs of the Brazilian population. Thus, the Brazilian Child Neurology Association elaborated on these recommendations with the goal of stimulating and expanding the use of the KD in Brazil.

Resumo As terapias dietéticas cetogênicas (TDC) são um tratamento seguro e eficaz para epilepsia farmacorresistente em crianças. Existem quatro tipos principais de TDCs: a dieta cetogênica (DC) clássica, a dieta de Atkins modificada (DAM), a dieta de triglicerídeos de cadeia média (DTCM) e a dieta de baixo índice glicêmico (DBIG). O Grupo Internacional de Estudos de Dietas Cetogênicas (International Ketogenic Diet Study Group) propõe recomendações para o manejo da DC em crianças com epilepsia. No entanto, faltam diretrizes que contemplem as necessidades específicas da população brasileira. Assim, a Associação Brasileira de Neurologia Infantil elaborou essas recomendações com o objetivo de estimular e expandir o uso da DC no Brasil.

Dieta cetogénica y su influencia en el tratamiento de la epilepsia refractaria infantil / Ketogenic diet and its influence on the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children / Dieta cetogênica e sua influência no tratamento da epilepsia refratária em crianças

La dieta cetogénica durante muchos años utilizada como una alternativa en el tratamiento para la epilepsia refractaria infantil, que consiste en un alto consumo de grasas, reducidas cantidades de carbohidratos y las cantidades necesarias de proteína que permitan al paciente por medio de la producción de cetonas un correcto y adecuado aporte energético al cerebro y todo el SNC. Objetivo. Describir el uso de la dieta cetogénica en el tratamiento de la epilepsia refractaria infantil para determinar su efectividad en la reducción de convulsiones y mejora en la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Metodología. Se ha realizado una revisión sistemática de la literatura científica para examinar la relación entre la dieta cetogénica y su efecto en el tratamiento de la epilepsia refractaria infantil. Para identificar y seleccionar las fuentes de información, se aplicó la declaración PRISMA y se llevó a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica exhaustiva en diversas bases de datos electrónicas, incluyendo PubMed, SCOPUS y SCIELO. Se utilizaron términos descriptores específicos como "dieta cetogénica", "influencia", "tratamiento", "epilepsia refractaria" y "niños", así como conectores como AND, OR o NOT para mejorar la precisión de la búsqueda. Conclusión. La dieta cetogénica ha demostrado ser efectiva en el tratamiento de la epilepsia refractaria al reducir en un 50% el número de crisis convulsivas y mejorar la cognición de los pacientes, lo que la convierte en una opción viable para el manejo de esta afección. Sin embargo, es importante tener en cuenta que la dieta cetogénica también puede tener efectos secundarios.

The ketogenic diet has been used for many years as an alternative in the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children, which consists of a high consumption of fats, reduced amounts of carbohydrates and the necessary amounts of protein to allow the patient, through the production of ketones, a correct and adequate energy supply to the brain and the entire CNS. Objective. To describe the use of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children to determine its effectiveness in reducing seizures and improving the quality of life of patients. Methodology. A systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted to examine the relationship between the ketogenic diet and its effect in the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children. To identify and select sources of information, the PRISMA statement was applied and a comprehensive literature search was conducted in various electronic databases, including PubMed, SCOPUS and SCIELO. Specific descriptor terms such as "ketogenic diet", "influence", "treatment", "refractory epilepsy" and "children" were used, as well as connectors such as AND, OR or NOT to improve search precision. Conclusion. The ketogenic diet has been shown to be effective in the treatment of refractory epilepsy by reducing the number of seizures by 50% and improving patients' cognition, making it a viable option for the management of this condition. However, it is important to keep in mind that the ketogenic diet can also have side effects.

A dieta cetogênica tem sido usada há muitos anos como um tratamento alternativo para epilepsia refratária em crianças, consistindo em um alto consumo de gorduras, quantidades reduzidas de carboidratos e as quantidades necessárias de proteínas para permitir ao paciente, por meio da produção de cetonas, um fornecimento correto e adequado de energia para o cérebro e todo o SNC. Objetivo. Descrever o uso da dieta cetogênica no tratamento da epilepsia refratária em crianças, a fim de determinar sua eficácia na redução das crises e na melhoria da qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Metodologia. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura científica para examinar a relação entre a dieta cetogênica e seu efeito no tratamento da epilepsia refratária em crianças. Para identificar e selecionar as fontes de informação, foi aplicada a declaração PRISMA e realizada uma pesquisa abrangente da literatura em vários bancos de dados eletrônicos, incluindo PubMed, SCOPUS e SCIELO. Foram usados termos descritores específicos, como "dieta cetogênica", "influência", "tratamento", "epilepsia refratária" e "crianças", além de conectores como AND, OR ou NOT para melhorar a precisão da pesquisa. Conclusão. A dieta cetogênica demonstrou ser eficaz no tratamento da epilepsia refratária, reduzindo o número de convulsões em 50% e melhorando a cognição dos pacientes, o que a torna uma opção viável para o tratamento dessa condição. Entretanto, é importante observar que a dieta cetogênica também pode ter efeitos colaterais.

Ketones and the Heart: Metabolic Principles and Therapeutic Implications.

The ketone bodies beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate are hepatically produced metabolites catabolized in extrahepatic organs. Ketone bodies are a critical cardiac fuel and have diverse roles in the regulation of cellular processes such as metabolism, inflammation, and cellular crosstalk in multiple organs that mediate disease. This review focuses on the role of cardiac ketone metabolism in health and disease with an emphasis on the therapeutic potential of ketosis as a treatment for heart failure (HF). Cardiac metabolic reprogramming, characterized by diminished mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, contributes to cardiac dysfunction and pathologic remodeling during the development of HF. Growing evidence supports an adaptive role for ketone metabolism in HF to promote normal cardiac function and attenuate disease progression. Enhanced cardiac ketone utilization during HF is mediated by increased availability due to systemic ketosis and a cardiac autonomous upregulation of ketolytic enzymes. Therapeutic strategies designed to restore high-capacity fuel metabolism in the heart show promise to address fuel metabolic deficits that underpin the progression of HF. However, the mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of ketone bodies in HF have yet to be defined and represent important future lines of inquiry. In addition to use as an energy substrate for cardiac mitochondrial oxidation, ketone bodies modulate myocardial utilization of glucose and fatty acids, two vital energy substrates that regulate cardiac function and hypertrophy. The salutary effects of ketone bodies during HF may also include extra-cardiac roles in modulating immune responses, reducing fibrosis, and promoting angiogenesis and vasodilation. Additional pleotropic signaling properties of beta-hydroxybutyrate and AcAc are discussed including epigenetic regulation and protection against oxidative stress. Evidence for the benefit and feasibility of therapeutic ketosis is examined in preclinical and clinical studies. Finally, ongoing clinical trials are reviewed for perspective on translation of ketone therapeutics for the treatment of HF.

Implicações odontológicas do consumo da dieta cetogênica para tratamento da epilepsia / Dental implications of the consumption of a ketogenic diet for the treatment of epilepsy

A epilepsia configura-se como sendo uma patologia crónica oriunda de manifestação elétrica cerebral de caráter anormal, que ocasiona repercussões neurológicas. O tratamento da epilepsia emprega a administração medicamentosa e também pode utilizar o recurso da dieta cetogénica. Sabe-se que o recurso da utilização da dieta cetogênica para enfrentamento da epilepsia promove repercussões a nível da saúde bucal dos enfermos em tratamento. O objetivo deste artigo foi evidenciar como o emprego da dieta cetogênica na terapia utilizada para enfrentamento da epilepsia pode influenciar na saúde bucal dos indivíduos em tratamento. O tratamento medicamentoso da epilepsia emprega anticonvulsivantes e muitas vezes requer o uso de mais de um medicamento para tratamento, o que pode acarretar efeitos adversos a nível sistêmico e oral. Merecem atenção e cuidados odontológicos comumente o tratamento com fármacos por intermédio da administração da fenitoína, geralmente utilizada para tratamento da epilepsia, que pode trazer repercussões odontológicas e alterações periodontais, como a hiperplasia gengival. O conhecimento e a conscientização por parte dos cirurgiões dentistas acerca dos cuidados odontológicos que devem ser adotados para esses pacientes especiais portadores de epilepsia são de suma importância para realização de uma abordagem odontológica. Concluiu-se que as repercussões bucais oriundas da epilepsia devem ser identificadas e tratadas imediatamente, ao passo que o cirurgião dentista contata os pacientes enfermos, uma vez que caso contrário pode-se conviver com agravantes e piora no quadro odontológico apresentado, portanto deve-se primar por impedir a evolução desfavorável do estado de saúde bucal dos pacientes.

Epilepsy is a chronic pathology arising from an abnormal electrical brain manifestation, which causes neurological repercussions. The treatment of epilepsy employs drug administration and can also use the ketogenic diet. It is known that the use of the ketogenic diet to cope with epilepsy promotes repercussions in terms of the oral health of patients undergoing treatment. The objective of this article was to show how the use of the ketogenic diet in the therapy used to cope with epilepsy can influence the oral health of individuals undergoing treatment. Drug treatment of epilepsy uses anticonvulsants and often requires the use of more than one drug for treatment, which can lead to adverse systemic and oral effects. Treatment with drugs through the administration of phenytoin, generally used for the treatment of epilepsy, which can bring dental repercussions and periodontal changes, such as gingival hyperplasia, deserves attention and dental care. Knowledge and awareness on the part of dental surgeons about the dental care that should be adopted for these special patients with epilepsy are of paramount importance for carrying out a dental approach. It was concluded that the oral repercussions arising from epilepsy should be identified and treated immediately, while the dental surgeon contacts sick patients, since otherwise one can live with aggravating factors and worsening of the dental condition presented, therefore, one should excel in preventing the unfavorable evolution of the patients' oral health status.

[Hemidystonia and hemichorea in a pediatric patient with glucose transporter type 1 deficiency]. / Hemidistonía y hemicorea en un paciente pediátrico con déficit del transportador de glucosa de tipo 1.

Glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome is a rare pediatric neurometabolic disorder. There are two phenotypes: the classical phenotype (85%) and the non-classic (15%). Both phenotypes are associated with hypoglycorrhachia. Multiple mutations are described in the SCL2A1 gene. The treatment is the ketogenic diet. We report a case of a four-year-old male patient who started with hemichorea and hemidystonia and was medicated with drugs for seizures without clinical response, that's why his parents made another pediatric consultation at his six-year-old. With the suggestive clinical findings of glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome the lumbar puncture was made confirming the diagnosis. Immediately after starting the ketogenic diet the patient stopped making abnormal movements up to the moment when he is fourteen years old, eight years after.

El síndrome de deficiencia del transportador de glucosa cerebral de tipo 1 es una enfermedad neurometabólica rara en pediatría. Existe un fenotípico clásico (85 %) y otro no clásico (15 %). Ambos fenotipos se asocian con hipoglucorraquia. Se identifican múltiples mutaciones en el gen SLC2A1. El tratamiento es la terapia cetogénica. Se presenta un varón que comenzó a los cuatro años con hemicorea y hemidistonía medicado con anticonvulsivantes sin respuesta clínica, por lo que consultó nuevamente a los seis años. Con sospecha diagnóstica de síndrome de déficit de glut-1 atípico se realizó punción lumbar; el diagnóstico se confirmó por la presencia de hipoglucorraquia. Inmediatamente después de iniciar la dieta cetogénica, el paciente no presentó más movimientos anormales durante los siguientes 8 años hasta la actualidad, ya cumplidos los 14 años.

Hemidistonía y hemicorea en un paciente pediátrico con déficit del transportador de glucosa de tipo 1 / Hemidystonia and hemichorea in a pediatric patient with glucose transporter type 1 deficiency

El síndrome de deficiencia del transportador de glucosa cerebral de tipo 1 es una enfermedad neurometabólica rara en pediatría. Existe un fenotípico clásico (85 %) y otro no clásico (15 %). Ambos fenotipos se asocian con hipoglucorraquia. Se identifican múltiples mutaciones en el gen SLC2A1. El tratamiento es la terapia cetogénica. Se presenta un varón que comenzó a los cuatro años con hemicorea y hemidistonía medicado con anticonvulsivantes sin respuesta clínica, por lo que consultó nuevamente a los seis años. Con sospecha diagnóstica de síndrome de déficit de glut-1 atípico se realizó punción lumbar; el diagnóstico se confirmó por la presencia de hipoglucorraquia. Inmediatamente después de iniciar la dieta cetogénica, el paciente no presentó más movimientos anormales durante los siguientes 8 años hasta la actualidad, ya cumplidos los 14 años.

Glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome is a rare pediatric neurometabolic disorder. There are two phenotypes: the classical phenotype (85%) and the non-classic (15%). Both phenotypes are associated with hypoglycorrhachia. Multiple mutations are described in the SCL2A1 gene. The treatment is the ketogenic diet. We report a case of a four-year-old male patient who started with hemichorea and hemidystonia and was medicated with drugs for seizures without clinical response, that's why his parents made another pediatric consultation at his six-year-old. With the suggestive clinical findings of glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome the lumbar puncture was made confirming the diagnosis. Immediately after starting the ketogenic diet the patient stopped making abnormal movements up to the moment when he is fourteen years old, eight years after.

Two cases of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome with a literature review / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES).Methods:The clinical data of 2 cases of FIRES admitted to Changde First People′s Hospital from 2020 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment methods and prognosis of the disease were discussed in combination with relevant literature.Results:Two children with FIRES were all acute onset, with fever as the first symptom, and status epilepticus appeared 3 to 5 days later. The efficacy of various antiepileptic drugs was poor. After ketogenic diet treatment, one child recovered well, and another child still had frequent convulsions under ventilator assisted breathing on the 27th day of admission. His family signed to give up the treatment. At the same time, compared with the domestic and foreign literature, the clinical characteristics of the two children are basically the same as those of the reported cases.Conclusions:FIRES is common in healthy children in the past. After seizures, it rapidly progresses to status epilepticus. MRI of the head and cerebrospinal fluid can have no characteristic changes. The effect of routine antiepileptic drugs is not good. Ketogenic diet can improve the condition of children, but the overall prognosis is not good.

Caracterización molecular del glioblastoma multiforme de un paciente con larga sobrevida / Molecular characterization of glioblastoma multiforme in a patient with long survival

RESUMEN El glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) es un tumor del sistema nervioso central con alta tasa de recambio celular, infiltración, degradación de la matriz extracelular y resistencia al tratamiento resectivo y quimioterapéutico. La sobrevida general no suele ser superior a los dos años. Sin embargo, en los últimos años se han dilucidado mejor los mecanismos moleculares que sustentan su comportamiento y que, potencialmente, podrían modularse con la terapia. A continuación se presenta el caso de un adulto joven, de 20 años, con diagnóstico de glioblastoma multiforme frontal derecho a los 13 años. El tratamiento incluyó cirugía resectiva, quimioterapia y dieta cetogénica. La caracterización genética del tumor se analiza en el contexto clínico del paciente.

SUMMARY Glioblastoma multiforme is a very aggressive central nervous system tumor with a high celular replacement, local infiltration, degradation of the extracellular matrix and resistance to surgery and chemotherapeutical agents. General survival used to be less than 2 years. However, research in the last years has shown the molecular mechanisms underlying behavior and potentially be a therapeutical targets. We show an adult with 20 years old diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme when he was 13 years, whose treatment involved resective surgery, chemoterapy and ketogenic diet. Genetic characterization was performed and analyzed in the context of the clinical pathway.

Dieta baja en carbohidratos y dieta cetogénica: impacto en enfermedades metabólicas y reproductivas

With low carbohydrate diets glucose becomes unavailable as a source of energy for our body, leading to the production of ketones from fatty acids in the liver. The increase in plasma ketones is known as nutritional ketosis. The available evidence from basic and clinical studies indicates that both low carbohydrate and high fat low carbohydrate diets are effective for weight loss and are better than non-intervention. However, low carbohydrate diet and ketogenic diets induce unique metabolic changes and consistently improve some markers of cardiovascular risk, lowering elevated blood glucose, insulin, triglycerides, ApoB and saturated fat concentrations, reducing small dense LDL particle numbers, glycated hemoglobin levels, blood pressure and body weight while increasing HDL-cholesterol concentrations and reversing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Low carbohydrate diets are an efficient strategy for the management of obesity and metabolic syndrome. They may also benefit patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. They must be prescribed by trained professionals to balance the risks and benefits for each individual patient. Future research is required to improve the knowledge about individual responses to dietary interventions, their safety, tolerance, efficacy and long-term effects.

Data highlighting effects of Ketogenic diet on cardiomyopathy and hepatopathy in Glycogen storage disease Type IIIA.

Datasets highlighting effects of ketogenic diet (KD) in a glycogen storage disease type IIIa patient is presented with the longest patient follow up report to date. Now a 15-year old girl with GSD type IIIa, diagnosed at 1 year of age, had initially introduced treatment with diet high carbohydrates, according to the recommendations. Progressively she developed left ventricular obstructive hypertrophy, hepatomegaly and skeletal myopathy. At the age of 11 years, she was introduced KD and continuous ketosis has been maintained for over 4 years providing longest reported follow up to date. KD introduction lead to a normalization of left ventricular parameters and ventricular mass and to an improvement in hepatic injury markers and decrease in liver size. We provided a table with biochemical parameters, a table providing detailed diet composition, tables with cardiac and hepatic measures and figures depicting cardiac NMR images; all the tables/figures are provided referring to the KD introduction (values prior/after). Interpretation of this data can be found in a case report article titled "Normalization of obstructive cardiomyopathy and improvement of hepatopathy on ketogenic diet in patient with glycogen storage disease (GSD) type IIIa".

Intervention Enhancement Strategies Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in a Very Low-Carbohydrate Web-Based Program: Evaluating the Impact With a Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Adults with type 2 diabetes may experience health benefits, including glycemic control and weight loss, from following a very low-carbohydrate, ketogenic (VLC) diet. However, it is unclear which ancillary strategies may enhance these effects. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aims to estimate the effect sizes of 3 intervention enhancement strategies (text messages, gifts, and breath vs urine ketone self-monitoring) that may improve outcomes of a 12-month web-based ad libitum VLC diet and lifestyle intervention for adults with type 2 diabetes. The primary intervention also included other components to improve adherence and well-being, including positive affect and mindfulness as well as coaching. METHODS: Overweight or obese adults (n=44; BMI 25-45 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] ≥6.5%), who had been prescribed either no glucose-lowering medications or metformin alone, participated in a 12-month web-based intervention. Using a 2×2×2 randomized factorial design, we compared 3 enhancement strategies: (1) near-daily text messages about the intervention's recommended behaviors (texts n=22 vs no texts n=22), (2) mailed gifts of diet-relevant foods and cookbooks (6 rounds of mailed gifts n=21 vs no gifts n=23), and (3) urine- or breath-based ketone self-monitoring (urine n=21 vs breath n=23). We assessed HbA1c and weight at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 months. We evaluated whether each strategy exerted a differential impact on HbA1c and weight at 12 months against an a priori threshold of Cohen d of 0.5 or greater. RESULTS: We retained 73% (32/44) of the participants at 12 months. The intervention, across all conditions, led to improvements in glucose control and reductions in body weight at the 12-month follow-up. In intent-to-treat (ITT) analyses, the mean HbA1c reduction was 1.0% (SD 1.6) and the mean weight reduction was 5.3% (SD 6.0), whereas among study completers, these reductions were 1.2% (SD 1.7) and 6.3% (SD 6.4), respectively, all with a P value of less than .001. In ITT analyses, no enhancement strategy met the effect size threshold. Considering only study completers, 2 strategies showed a differential effect size of at least a d value of 0.5 or greater. CONCLUSIONS: Text messages, gifts of food and cookbooks, and urine-based ketone self-monitoring may potentially enhance the glycemic or weight loss benefits of a web-based VLC diet and lifestyle intervention for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Future research could investigate other enhancement strategies to help create even more effective solutions for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02676648; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02676648.

Ketogenic Diet for Refractory Childhood Epilepsy: Beyond Seizures Control, the Experience of a Portuguese Pediatric Centre.

INTRODUCTION: Ketogenic diet is a low carbohydrate diet, which can be used as a treatment for refractory childhood epilepsy. The first aim of this study was to evaluate its efficacy, in patients receiving ketogenic diet for at least three months, on epilepsy control, behaviour and awareness. The secondary aims were to evaluate the variation in the number of antiepileptic drugs, reasons for discontinuing the diet and adverse effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients who underwent ketogenic diet for refractory epilepsy, from October 2007 to January 2018, in a tertiary pediatric hospital. RESULTS: In the twenty-nine eligible patients, the mean age of initiation was 7.9 years-old (+/- 5.6). Of those, 18 had a ≥ 50% reduction of seizure activity, 19 a marked behaviour improvement and 18 improved awareness. The median number of antiepileptic drugs remained equal for the 15 patients who completed 18 months of treatment (three drugs). The main reason for discontinuing ketogenic diet was a familiar decision. The main adverse effects were hypercholesterolemia (n = 23) and hypertriglyceridemia (n = 21). DISCUSSION: Results were comparable to those of other cohorts, namely age of initiation, proportion of patients completing ketogenic diet, most frequent reasons for stopping and significant improvement of alertness and behavior. CONCLUSION: Beyond seizure control, patients experienced a marked improvement in behavior and awareness. It is necessary to develop strategies to increase the adherence of families to the diet.

Introdução: A dieta cetogénica é uma dieta com baixo teor de hidratos de carbono, que pode ser usada no tratamento da epilepsia infantil refratária. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a eficácia nos doentes que completaram pelo menos três meses de dieta, no que respeita ao controlo das crises, comportamento e estado de alerta. Foi também avaliada a variação do número de fármacos antiepiléticos, as razões de descontinuação e os efeitos secundários. Material e Métodos: Análise retrospetiva dos processos clínicos dos doentes com epilepsia refratária sob dieta cetogénica, de outubro de 2007 a janeiro de 2018, num hospital pediátrico de nível 3. Resultados: Nos 29 doentes elegíveis, a média da idade de implementação foi 7,9 anos (+/­ 5,6). Destes, 18 tiveram uma redução ≥ 50% das crises, 19 tiveram uma melhoria marcada do comportamento e 18 do seu estado de alerta. Dos 15 que completaram 18 meses, a mediana do número de fármacos antiepiléticos permaneceu idêntica à do início (três fármacos). A principal razão de descontinuação foi por decisão familiar. Os principais efeitos secundários foram a hipercolesterolémia (n = 23) e a hipertrigliceridémia (n = 21). Discussão: Os resultados foram semelhantes aos obtidos noutras coortes, nomeadamente no que respeita à idade de início, à percentagem de doentes que completou a dieta, às razões da suspensão e à melhoria do comportamento e estado de alerta. Conclusão: Para além do controlo das crises, os doentes tiveram uma marcada melhoria do seu comportamento e estado de alerta. É necessário desenvolver estratégias para aumentar a adesão das famílias à dieta.

Pre ketogenic diet counselling.

This communication describes the aims and aspects of counseling prior to start of a ketogenic diet (KD). It uses a reader-friendly bio-psycho-social format to list and structure the various components of pre ketogenic diet counseling. These include strength mapping, risk and benefit explanation, and understanding the patient's selfcare responsibilities. This simple, yet practical discussion fills a major void in current literature, which seems to have ignored patient centred counseling strategies for KD in persons with obesity and diabetes.

Examining the Effects of Mindful Eating Training on Adherence to a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes (the DELISH Study): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Diet patterns have a profound influence on glycemic control for individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and craving-related eating is an important obstacle to dietary adherence. A growing body of research suggests that carbohydrate-restricted (CR) diets can improve glycemic control and reduce medication dependence in T2DM. However, limited data speak to the effects of long-term adherence to CR diets. Mindful eating training has been shown to reduce craving-related eating in overweight populations but has yet to be examined as a behavioral support for dietary adherence in T2DM. This trial examines behavioral mechanisms, particularly craving-related eating, through which mindful eating training might improve adherence to CR dietary recommendations in T2DM. This will clarify the importance of focusing on craving-related eating in the optimization of dietary adherence interventions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this trial is to determine whether providing training in mindful eating increases adherence to a CR dietary recommendation in T2DM. METHODS: We are randomizing 60 participants to receive a CR diet with or without mindful eating training (12-week group intervention) and are following participants for 12 weeks after intervention completion. We hypothesize that participants who receive mindful eating training (relative to those who do not) will demonstrate greater adherence to the CR diet. RESULTS: Our primary outcome is change in craving-related eating, as assessed using an ecological momentary assessment mobile phone-based platform. Secondary behavioral pathway outcomes include changes in stress-related eating, impulsivity, glycemic control, weight change, dietary adherence, and resumption of dietary adherence after dietary nonadherence. CONCLUSIONS: This theory-driven trial will shed light on the impact of mindfulness training on mechanisms that may impact dietary adherence in T2DM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03207711; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03207711 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/73pXscwaU). INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/11002.