The MKD for the treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in adults
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The modified ketogenic diet for the treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy in adults: an observational cohort study
IRAS ID
173471
Contact name
Manny Bagary
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 28 days
Research summary
Dietary treatments have long been recognised as having an effect on seizures but the way in which they work is still relatively unknown. There is a body of evidence to show that the classical ketogenic diet is effective in children and there are a number of clinics across the UK offering dietary treatment. The evidence for the use of the diet in adults is very poor and the studies that do exist are not of very high quality.
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder affecting approximately one in a hundred people. Unfortunately, antiepileptic drugs do not work for almost one in three people with epilepsy. Due to demand from our service users we are running a dietary clinic for adults with epilepsy that have not responded to antiepileptic drugs. We would like to see whether or not the modified Ketogenic diet has any effect on seizure frequency and if it has any side effects. We would also like to find out if the diet has an impact on mood, anxiety, seizure severity and quality of life. In addition we want to know if the diet reduces how often people with epilepsy are seen by health services. If the study shows that the diet is a good treatment for people who do not respond to antiepileptic drugs we would like to continue to offer a dietary service and develop a larger randomised controlled trial.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EM/0184
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion