Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35565714›Full record

ArticleNutrients2022

Effects of Classic Ketogenic Diet in Children with Refractory Epilepsy: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Kingdom of Bahrain.

Simone Perna, Cinzia Ferraris, Monica Guglielmetti, Tariq A Alalwan, Alaa M Mahdi, Davide Guido, Anna Tagliabue

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nutrients, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Simone PernaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir Campus, Zallaq P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain.ORCID 0000-0002-2720-1473
Cinzia FerrarisHuman Nutrition and Eating Disorder Research Center, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4148-2136
Monica GuglielmettiHuman Nutrition and Eating Disorder Research Center, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-6327-9959
Tariq A AlalwanDepartment of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir Campus, Zallaq P.O. Box 32038, Bahrain.ORCID 0000-0002-7693-4542
Alaa M MahdiSalmaniya Medical Complex, Manama P.O. Box 12, Bahrain.ORCID 0000-0001-7849-7107
Davide GuidoFondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
Anna TagliabueHuman Nutrition and Eating Disorder Research Center, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7647-6975
University of Pavia · ITUniversity of Bahrain · BHAgostino Gemelli University Polyclinic · ITSalmaniya Medical Complex · BH

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The classic ketogenic diet (cKD) has been used worldwide as an effective therapy for children with drug-resistant epilepsy. However, there have been no studies performed in Middle Eastern countries in order to assess the efficacy, side effects, predictors of cKD response and factors mostly associated with diet adherence. This study aims to assess the efficacy of cKD ratios of 4:1 and 3:1 and their influence on growth and biochemical parameters, particularly lipid profile and liver function tests (LFTs), and the factors most associated with diet adherence in a cohort of children with drug-resistant epilepsy in Bahrain. Methods: Baseline and follow-up data related to patients’ demographic and biochemical variables, epilepsy episodes, diet history and anthropometric measurements were retrieved for a total of 24 children treated with cKD in Bahrain. Results: After 6 months cKD initiation, 58.3% were positive responders with >50% seizure rate reduction, and 33.3% became seizure-free at 12 months. After 6 months of intervention with cKD, the level of triglycerides and albumin had a significant (p < 0.05) average increase over time of +1.47 mmol/L and 4.3 g/L, respectively. Although the median values of total cholesterol and alanine transaminase increased, respectively, following cKD initiation, the difference over time was not statistically significant. The mean z-scores for weight, height, and body mass index (or weight-for-length) did not change significantly at 12 months follow-up. cKD duration was the highest correlated variable with cKD efficacy (r = 0.76), which was followed by age at cKD initiation (r = 0.47). The cKD was discontinued by 14 patients (58.3%) during the first follow-up period (6 months), which was mainly due to inefficacy (n = 8), poor compliance (n = 3), food refusal (n = 1), achieved required efficacy (n = 1) and death (n = 1). Conclusions: cKD is an effective treatment for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, and positive response to cKD was the main factor that increased adherence to the diet. Although long-term cKD could increase the risk of dyslipidemia and hepatic problems, it appears safe for children. Consequently, close monitoring and emphasis on healthy fats is of high priority.

Indexed as

Diet, KetogenicDrug Resistant EpilepsyEpilepsyRenal Insufficiency, ChronicBahrainChildFemaleHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesTreatment Outcomediet therapyketogenic dietpediatric epilepsyseizures

Identifiers

PMID35565714
PMCPMC9105742
OpenAlexW4224309745

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.