Intermittent Fasting with MCTs Shows a Potential Signal for Fewer Seizures in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Originally published in Epilepsia

A recent pilot study investigated whether intermittent fasting combined with medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)—a type of fat commonly used in ketogenic diets—could help reduce seizures in adults with drug-resistant epilepsy. Ketogenic dietary therapies can reduce seizures in some people with epilepsy, but following a traditional ketogenic diet can be difficult. Researchers are exploring whether less restrictive approaches could provide some of the same benefits.

The study included 36 adults with drug-resistant epilepsy. Participants followed two different 12-week approaches: intermittent fasting for 16 hours each day with an eight-hour eating window, and the same fasting schedule combined with an MCT-containing drink. The two treatment periods were separated by a four-week break. Participants continued their usual anti-seizure medications during the study.

Twenty-two participants completed enough of the study to be included in the main analysis. Overall, the study did not find a statistically significant difference in seizure frequency between intermittent fasting with MCTs and intermittent fasting alone. However, exploratory analyses found that eight of the 22 participants—about 37%—experienced a reduction in seizures of at least 50% during one of the intervention periods. Five of those participants achieved that level of seizure reduction during the intermittent fasting plus MCT period, and two participants became seizure-free during that period.

The researchers caution that this was a small, exploratory study and it was not large enough to determine whether the approach was effective. Still, the findings provide an early signal that intermittent fasting combined with MCT supplementation may warrant further study as a potentially less restrictive dietary approach for some adults with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Full Article