Physical Activity, Ketogenic Diet, and Epilepsy: A Mini-Review
Maria Ruberto,
Vincenzo Monda,
Francesco Precenzano,
Girolamo Di Maio,
Antonietta Messina,
Valentina Lanzara,
Eugenio Merolla,
Nicola Tartaglia,
Antonio Ambrosi,
Marcellino Monda,
Cristian V. Francavilla,
Giovanni Messina,
Fiorenzo Moscatelli
Affiliations
Maria Ruberto
Centro Minerva pro-Juventute, Naples, Italy
Vincenzo Monda
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetic and Sport Medicine, Naples, Italy
Francesco Precenzano
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Naples, Italy
Girolamo Di Maio
University of Naples Federico II, Department of Experimental Medicine, Naples, Italy
Antonietta Messina
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetic and Sport Medicine, Naples, Italy
Valentina Lanzara
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Naples, Italy
Eugenio Merolla
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Naples, Italy
Nicola Tartaglia
University of Foggia, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Foggia, Italy
Antonio Ambrosi
University of Foggia, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Foggia, Italy
Marcellino Monda
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetic and Sport Medicine, Naples, Italy
Cristian V. Francavilla
University of Enna “Kore”, Enna, Italy
Giovanni Messina
University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, Italy
Fiorenzo Moscatelli
University of Foggia, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, Italy
One-third of patients with epilepsy do not respond to antiepileptic drugs and may seek complementary and alternative treatment modalities. Dietary therapies, such as the ketogenic diet (KD), the modified Atkins diet, as well as the medium-chain triglyceride and the low glycaemic index diets, have been successfully implemented with some forms of epilepsy and are growing in utilization. The KD is a high-fat, low-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that has been used for various conditions for over a century. Insights into the mechanism of action of these diets may provide more targeted interventions for patients with epilepsy. Knowledge of these mechanisms is growing and includes neuroprotective effects on oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, potassium channels in the brain, and mitochondrial function. In this review, we explain the role of physical exercise and the ketogenic diet on epilepsy.
