Maria Ruberto1, Vincenzo Monda2, Francesco Precenzano3, Girolamo Di Maio4, Antonietta Messina2, Valentina Lanzara3, Eugenio Merolla3, Nicola Tartaglia5, Antonio Ambrosi5, Marcellino Monda2
1Centro Minerva pro-Juventute, Naples, Italy
2University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetic and Sport Medicine, Naples, Italy
3University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Mental Health, Physical and Preventive Medicine, Clinic of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Naples, Italy
4University of Naples Federico II, Department of Experimental
Medicine, Naples, Italy
5University of Foggia, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Foggia, Italy
Physical Activity, Ketogenic Diet, and Epilepsy: A Mini-Review
Sport Mont 2021, 19(1), 109-113 | DOI: 10.26773/smj.210207
Abstract
One-third of patients with epilepsy do not respond to antiepileptic drugs and may seek complementary and alternative treatment modalities. Dietary therapies, such as the ketogenic diet (KD), the modified Atkins diet, as well as the medium-chain triglyceride and the low glycaemic index diets, have been successfully implemented with some forms of epilepsy and are growing in utilization. The KD is a high-fat, low-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that has been used for various conditions for over a century. Insights into the mechanism of action of these diets may provide more targeted interventions for patients with epilepsy. Knowledge of these mechanisms is growing and includes neuroprotective effects on oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, potassium channels in the brain, and mitochondrial function. In this review, we explain the role of physical exercise and the ketogenic diet on epilepsy.
Keywords
ketogenic diet, physical exercise, epilepsy
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