How effective is the ketogenic diet (KD) in treating seizures?

Jeanne Morrison, PhD

Family Medicine

According to the results the ketogenic diet has proven to be effective in some cases.

27% have had their seizures controlled

27% had a decrease of >90% of their seizures within the first year

7% became completely seizure-free within the first year.

Almost all Epilepsy patients who remained on the diet for one full year had a 50% or greater decrease in seizures.

Continue Learning about Epilepsy & Seizures Treatment

What do actor Danny Glover, President Theodore Roosevelt and singer Neil Young have in common? All of them have had epilepsy at one point in their liv...

Riverside Center for Neurosciences

Seizures in Dravet syndrome are difficult to control but can be reduced by anticonvulsant drugs. A k...

Irene A. Semenov, DO

Successful treatment of seizures is based on the correct diagnosis of the epilepsy syndrome. Tre...

Brigham and Women's Hospital

The majority of people with epilepsy do not need to have surgery. In most cases, seizures can be...

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Epilepsy & Seizures Treatment

In terms of epilepsy treatment, the most common therapy is antiseizure medications. If a patient doesn't respond to medication, it may be a sign of an underlying, treatable cause of the epilepsy, such as a brain tumor. These patients may be referred to a specialized epilepsy center for treatment with a surgical procedure. For children with epilepsy, doctors may suggest a high fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diet. This diet can help prevent seizures in children who don't respond to antiepileptic medications and may reduce or end the need for medication. It's not clear why this diet is more effective in children than adults in the treatment of epilepsy.

Learn More