Dana Craiu *
* Dr. Dana Craiu, Asistent Universitar UMF Carol Davila – Catedra neurologie Pediatrică ll, Medic Primar Neurologie Pediatrică, clinica Neurologie Pediatrică spitalul Clinic de Psihiatrie “Dr. Alexandru Obregia”
Abstract
The ketogenic diet (KO) is a rigid, mathematically cal culated, high in fat and low in protein and carbohydrate diet. It is used especially for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsies, but also for other serious diseases. This paper presents the probable mechanisms of action of the diet, the protocol for KO initiation, the way of diet calculation, adverse reactions, monitoring, duration and discontinuation. KO is an eficient therapeutic method for most of the patients with refractory epilepsy or with antiepileptic drugs toxicity. Anyway, there are limitations for the KO use because of the diet calculation and maintainance difficulties.