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

Abstract:

Objective To study the effects of ketogenic diet (KD) on lipid metabolism in children with intractable epilepsy and the risk of atherosclerosis in children treated with KD assessed by changes in lipid profile. Methods The clinical data of 47 children with intractable epilepsy from 2013 to 2017 were collected. Blood lipid levels including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), were detected before and 3 months after KD treatment. LDL/HDL ratio, arterial stiffness index (AI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and lipid comprehensive index (LCI) were calculated to assess the risk of atherosclerosis. Results After 3 months of KD treatment, the TG and TC levels were slightly higher than those before treatment, and the HDL levels were slightly lower than those before treatment, but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The LDL levels of the children after 3 months of KD treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment (P < 0.05). After 3 months of KD treatment, the LDL/HDL ratio and AI, AIP and LCI levels of the children were increased compared with those before treatment, but only the increase of the LDL/HDL ratio was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions KD treatment may lead to increase in LDL level and LDL/HDL ratio, suggesting that KD treatment may increase the risk of atherosclerosis.