The use of ketogenic diet therapies (KDT) in adults has expanded in the last two decades and has been accompanied by a surge of new retrospective as well as prospective studies evaluating its efficacy in adults with epilepsy. In this review article, researchers highlight the recent clinical trials and advances in the use of the ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) in adult patients with epilepsy. The team analyzes the responder rate in regard to the epilepsy syndrome (focal vs generalized) to identify adults who are optimal to consider for KDT.
In addition to its role in treating patients with chronic epilepsy, this study explores the emerging use of the KDT in the critical care setting in adults with refractory and super-refractory status epilepticus as well as other neurologic disorders. Finally, this study discusses special considerations for the use of KDT in adults with epilepsy including its potential long-term effects on bone and cardiovascular health, and its use in pregnancy.