Epilepsy

Ketogenic Diet Changes Gut Bacteria in Children with Epilepsy

by Mike Mutzel

2 comments

Study Title: Altered gut microbiome composition in children with refractory epilepsy after ketogenic diet

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920121118301578

Authors: Yunjiank, Zhang Shuizhen, Zhou Yuanfeng Zhou,  Lifei Yu, Linmei Zhang, YiWang

Quick Study Overview

Highlights

• Ketogenic diet can alter the composition of intestinal microbiota in children with refractory epilepsy.

• The changes of gut microbiota are associated with differential efficacy after KD.

• Specific gut microbiota are enriched in the non-responsive group.

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and composition of intestinal microbiota in children with refractory epilepsy after ketogenic diet (KD) therapy and to explore the bacterial biomarkers related to clinical efficacy.

Methods

We prospectively analyzed 20 patients (14 males, 6 females) treated with KD. Clinical efficacy, electroencephalogram (EEG) changes, and laboratory tests were evaluated, and fecal specimens were obtained prior to and 6 months after therapy. The composition of gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing, and we screened the possible flora associated with efficacy of the KD.

Results

After 6 months of treatment, 2 patients were seizure free, 3 had ≥ 90% seizure reduction, 5 had a reduction of 50 to 89%, and 10 had < 50% reduction. All 10 responders showed an improvement in EEG. Compared with baseline, fecal microbial profiles showed lower alpha diversity after KD therapy and revealed significantly decreased abundance of Firmicutes and increased levels of Bacteroidetes. We also observed that Clostridiales, Ruminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Alistipes were enriched in the non-responsive group.

Conclusions

The results show that the KD can reduce the species richness and diversity of intestinal microbiota. The changes of gut microbiota may be associated with different efficacy after KD, and specific gut microbiota may serve as an efficacy biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in patients with refractory epilepsy.

Keywords Refractory epilepsyketogenic dietgut microbiotachildren

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0920121118301578

 

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