When the ketogenic diet works, though, it is worth all the trouble. Before the study these patients had averaged more than 400 seizures per month. Dr. Wayne Frankel and his collaborators have identified the genetic mutations that are responsible for epilepsy in several different mouse models. Another study, focusing on a form of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, was designed to evaluate how quickly the ketogenic diet could reduce the frequency of seizures. In the 17 children studied, Dr. Freeman and his collaborators found that the number of seizures fell by more than 50 percent within five days of starting the diet.
Much research remains to be done on the ketogenic diet.
The mechanism of action by which ketones in the blood inhibit seizures in the brain is still unknown, and the first double-blind study is now only in its initial stages. Although the causes of many forms of epilepsy may continue to elude researchers for some time, it is clear that instrument-intensive genetic research, animal studies, and clinical protocols can build on each other to provide new insights into the causes and treatment of this complex disorder. Additional Reading Charlier, C., Singh, N. A., Ryan, S. G., et al.