Dietary practices and use of the ketogenic diet in the UK

With the introduction of Internet communications, parental interest has increased in the use of the ketogenic diet for epilepsy. It was decided to audit current practice in the use of the ketogenic diet in the UK. All paediatric dietitians who were members of the Paediatric Group of the British Dietetic Association were surveyed by a postal questionnaire. There was a 51% response rate. Twenty-two hospitals (17%) used the ketogenic diet with 101 patients being treated. Fifty-nine percent used the traditional 4 : 1 (four parts fat : one part carbohydrate, one part protein) classical ketogenic diet and 41% used the medium chain triglyceride diet (60% MCT fat). The age of patients ranged from 1 to over 11 years. There were wide variations in its application, with 66% of hospitals initiating the diet in hospital and 33% at home. The dietary energy administered varied from 60 to 90 kcal/kg/day, and there was no consistent policy on vitamin and mineral supplementation. Twenty-five patients continued to follow the diet after 12 months. Therefore, the ketogenic diet is commonly used for the treatment of intractable epilepsy in the UK. Further research work is needed on its nutritional safety and application. (C) 2000 BEA Trading Ltd.