Low glycemic index treatment in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy

Se Hee Kim, Hoon Chul Kang, Eun Joo Lee, Joon Soo Lee, Heung Dong Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) is a newly developed dietary therapeutic option for epilepsy that is less restrictive than the ketogenic diet (KD). Our objective was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of LGIT. Methods From March 2014 to February 2015, 36 patients received LGIT at Severance Children's Hospital. One-year seizure outcomes and side effects were evaluated. Results A total of 36 patients were assessed. Fourteen were female. Common diagnoses were Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (33%, 12/36) and Dravet syndrome (14%, 5/36). The median age at the initiation of the LGIT was 12.6 years (min. = 1.5, max. = 28, interquartile range (IQR) 8–17). After 3 months of therapy, 20 (56%) patients experienced a 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency, which was maintained in 19 (53%) patients for 1 year. Two (6%) patients became seizure-free after 3 months of LGIT; they remained seizure-free for 1 year. These two had Dravet syndrome and generalized epilepsy. Only three (8%) patients discontinued treatment within 1 year. Adverse events were rare, and two patients (6%) reported transient diarrhea. Conclusions LGIT effectively reduced seizure frequency in the present study, although seizure freedom was infrequently achieved. LGIT may be considered as a therapeutic option for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, particularly those who find KD effective but intolerable.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)687-692
Number of pages6
JournalBrain and Development
Volume39
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017 Sept

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology

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