Practical considerations of dietary therapies for epilepsy in adults

Abstract

Abstract Despite the increasing number of anti-seizure medications becoming available, the proportion of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy remains unchanged. Dietary therapy for epilepsy is well-established practice in paediatric care, but relatively underutilised in adults. Recently, international recommendations have been published to guide the treatment of adults receiving dietary therapy for epilepsy. This review focuses on the specific aspects of care unique to the management of adults receiving dietary therapy for epilepsy, including patient selection, diet composition, initiation, monitoring and cessation of dietary treatment. We emphasise the need for a multidisciplinary team approach with appropriately trained neurologists and dietitians to provide holistic care while the patients are receiving dietary therapy. Future research should focus on the optimal diet composition and meeting the psychosocial needs of adults with epilepsy to maximise efficacy and adherence to dietary treatment.

Keywords

• Ketogenic diet
• Epilepsy
• Diet
• Drug-resistant epilepsy
• Nutrition