The rigorous high-fat, low-carb diet used to treat epileptic seizures in children is probably safe in the short term.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a ketogenic diet raised cholesterol and lipid levels beyond what is normally considered healthy. But because the regimen is one of the best ways to reduce seizures that don't respond to medication, researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center say it may be safe to use for up to two years. Fat levels generally return to normal when a child discontinues the diet.
The high-fat diet forces the body to use up the body's storage of glucose, or sugar, before burning stored body fat. It mimics the effects of starvation—but shouldn't be used for weight loss in childhood. Scientists are still studying the exact mechanism that reduces seizures. Kids on the diet who remain seizure-free for two years can usually go back to a normal diet without their seizures returning.
