Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42084670›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of clinical pharmacy2026

Ketoproof? A systematic classification of pharmaceutical excipients for ketogenic diet therapy.

Samir El Abdouni, Manon G den Uil, Zikrullah Kafa, Tatiana Soares Ribeiro, Elles J T M van der Louw, Elisabeth J Ruijgrok, A Laura Nijstad

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Article in International journal of clinical pharmacy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Samir El AbdouniDepartment of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3873-2202
Manon G den UilDepartment of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5622-668X
Zikrullah KafaDepartment of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1218-5644
Tatiana Soares RibeiroDepartment of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2816-5161
Elles J T M van der LouwDivision of Dietetics, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3245-0471
Elisabeth J RuijgrokDepartment of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2137-5525
A Laura NijstadDepartment of Hospital Pharmacy, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.nijstad@erasmusmc.nl.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3448-7665

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionKetogenic diet therapy (KDT) is an evidence-based treatment for refractory epilepsy, particularly in children. Strict adherence to carbohydrate restriction is essential to maintain ketosis, yet many medications contain excipients that can disrupt this balance. Pharmacists play a crucial role in evaluating and adjusting medication regimens for patients on KDT, but limited transparency regarding excipient content often makes this process inefficient and inconsistent. Although some regional databases exist, no systematic and comprehensive resources have been developed for broader use.

aimThis study aimed to systematically classify pharmaceutical excipients and label all medications marketed in the Netherlands according to their compatibility with KDT ("Ketoproof" status) using a transparent, reproducible framework that can serve as the foundation for safer prescribing and international standardization.

methodA retrospective cross-sectional database analysis was conducted using data from the Dutch G-Standaard (June 2023-March 2024), a national pharmaceutical reference database used in the Netherlands. All excipients authorized in medications marketed in the Netherlands were extracted and classified based on chemical composition, metabolic fate, and administration route. Excipients were assigned a Ketoproof status through a structured decision flowchart, expert consensus, and quality control review. Finally, pharmaceutical products were labeled by cross-referencing their excipient profiles against the classified dataset.

resultsA total of 1047 excipients were identified. Of these, 778 (74%) were successfully classified: 590 (56%) as Ketoproof and 188 (18%) as non-Ketoproof. The remaining 269 (26%) were unclassified. Excipients requiring expert consensus included polyols and sugar alcohols, organic acids, and coloring and flavoring agents, which were carefully assessed for clinical relevance. Among 28,721 pharmaceutical products analyzed, 41% (n = 11,781) were labeled as Ketoproof. The full dataset was integrated into KetoMed, a web-based tool designed to support healthcare professionals in reviewing medications for patients on KDT.

conclusionThis study presents the first systematic classification of pharmaceutical excipients for KDT compatibility. The transparent, evidence-informed framework enables structured labeling of medications and supports safer prescribing for patients undergoing KDT. Broader adoption and international collaboration are recommended to establish consensus on excipient classification, enhance regulatory transparency, and integrate Ketoproof labeling into clinical decision-support systems to optimize ketogenic therapy management.

Indexed as

Diet, KetogenicExcipientsCross-Sectional StudiesDatabases, FactualDrug LabelingDrug Resistant EpilepsyHumansNetherlandsRetrospective StudiesExcipientsClinicalDecision support systemsDietDrug resistant epilepsyExcipientsKetogenic

Identifiers

PMID42084670
PMCPMC13569564

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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.