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Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure Readings in Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy Following the Ketogenic Diet via KetoCal®

Urso, Lauryn R
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2260-3403
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin156329577779945

Abstract Details

2019, MS, University of Cincinnati, Allied Health Sciences: Nutrition.
The ketogenic diet (KD) has been effectively used in the treatment of epilepsy since the 1920s. Consumption of such a low carbohydrate diet causes the body to produce ketones, which has been associated with the reduction of seizures. While the specific biochemical mechanism that ketones result in anticonvulsant effects remains unknown, the KD has shown to be exceptionally effective for patients with pharmacologically-resistant epilepsy. The diet requires a high consumption of fat, with 90% of an individual’s total calories derived from fat sources. Typical foods consumed on this diet include animal products high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which may contribute to changes in the lipid profile. In fact, previous literature has demonstrated that pediatric patients following a ketogenic diet tend to have alterations in the lipid profile following the introduction of the diet, such as an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TGs), and a decrease in high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Studies have observed a correlation between the lipid profile and atherosclerosis in adulthood; however, the impact of the lipid profile in childhood and adolescence on atherosclerosis development remains unknown. The effects of following a KD using a liquid formula (rather than foods) on the lipid profile has not been reported. The purpose of the current study was to examine changes in: 1) lipid profiles and 2) systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings in pediatric patients with epilepsy following the ketogenic diet by either mouth or enteral feedings of KetoCal® 4:1 ratio formula. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on pediatric patients who visited Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center between January 2015 and December 2018 to examine serum total cholesterol (TC), LDL, TG, HDL, systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. Results: From baseline through three follow-up clinic visits, TC, LDL, and TG levels increased over time, while there were no significant changes in HDL or blood pressure. The clinical relevance of the seemingly negative alterations in the lipid profile warrants further examination and consideration. However, in contrast to studies of patients following a KD primarily by foods, the lack of observed reduction in HDL for patients following the KD via KetoCal® in the current study may be considered positive. This may enable patients to continue to follow the KD long-term and support continued nutritional care of these individuals.
Abigail Peairs, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Sarah Couch, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
46 p.
Nutrition
ketogenic diet; epilepsy; pediatric; KetoCal; lipid

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Urso, L. R. (2019). Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure Readings in Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy Following the Ketogenic Diet via KetoCal® [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin156329577779945

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Urso, Lauryn. Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure Readings in Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy Following the Ketogenic Diet via KetoCal®. 2019. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin156329577779945.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Urso, Lauryn. "Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure Readings in Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy Following the Ketogenic Diet via KetoCal®." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin156329577779945

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin156329577779945
72
© 2019, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Lipid Profile and Blood Pressure Readings in Pediatric Patients with Epilepsy Following the Ketogenic Diet via KetoCal® by Lauryn R Urso is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.