Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41978131›Full record

ReviewNutrients2026

The Ketogenic Diet and Potential Micronutrient Risks in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Management: A Literature Review.

Bhavini Singh, Paige Botten, Katherine P Richardson, Chaston Weaver, Sharad Purohit

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Nutrients, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Bhavini SinghMedical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.ORCID 0009-0002-0533-7190
Paige BottenDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Allied Health Sciences, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
Katherine P RichardsonPhiladelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Georgia Campus, Suwanee, GA 30024, USA.
Chaston WeaverMedical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2236-8298
Sharad PurohitCenter for Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0385-3829

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a critical, evidence-based intervention within medical nutrition therapy for managing neurological disorders. In this article, we reviewed the published research on the efficacy of the ketogenic diet and its variations in treating epilepsy, particularly for patients unresponsive to anti-epileptic drugs. The literature review was performed on PubMed between 2022 and 2025. The review of clinical studies across various age groups reveals that, while the KD is effective for both focal and generalized seizures, infants often achieve higher rates of seizure freedom compared to adults, potentially due to better dietary compliance. Despite its success, the restrictive nature of the diet presents significant challenges for individuals suffering from epilepsy. The key challenges that reduce compliance over time include side effects, such as gastrointestinal issues, potential for malnutrition, and a high risk of micronutrient deficiencies. The role of the registered dietitian is paramount in this interdisciplinary approach, ensuring personalized education by monitoring growth and adjusting nutritional plans to optimize health outcomes for children unresponsive to anti-epileptic drugs. Ultimately, integrating MNT with traditional pharmacological or surgical treatments offers the most promising path for significant seizure reduction and improved quality of life for epileptic patients.

Indexed as

Diet, KetogenicDrug Resistant EpilepsyMicronutrientsAdultChildChild, PreschoolHumansInfantMalnutritionMicronutrientsclinical dietsdrug-resistant epilepsyketogenic dietneurological disordersnutritional deficienciesseizures

Identifiers

PMID41978131
PMCPMC13074454

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.