Table 1.
Ketogenic diets (KDs) used to treat pharmacoresistant epilepsy are listed.
| Diet | Proponent(s) | Fasting | Ketogenic ratio | Hospitalization | Ketosis (plasma, mmol/L) | Urinary ketones | Fat (%) | Protein (%) | Carbohydrate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic KD | Wilder (23) | Yes | 2–4:1 | Yes | 2–5 | 3+ 4+ | 87–90 | 8 | 2–4 |
| MCT | Huttenlocher et al. (27) | No | 1.3–1.6:1 | No | 2.7–3.3 | 3+ 4+ | 70–75 | 10–15 | 15 |
| MAD | Kossoff et al. (25) | No | 0.9:1 | No | Not specified | Variable | 60–70 | 20–30 | 4–6 |
| LGIT | Pfeifer and Thiele (29) | No | 1:1 | No | 0.8–2 | Variable | 60–65 | 20–30 | 10–15 |
Note that the ketogenic ratio (fats/carbohydrates–proteins) was progressively decreased by passing the classic KD to the others. Accordingly, a lower ketosis is allowed with diets alternative to classic KD. Fat, proteins, and carbohydrates are indicated in percentages of total calories.