Intermittent fasting in refractory epilepsy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A SINGLE CENTRE OPEN SIX MONTHS STUDY OF INTERMITTENT FASTING FOR THE TREATMENT OF PEOPLE WITH REFRACTORY EPILEPSY
IRAS ID
133894
Contact name
Ley Sander
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
Can an intermittent fasting diet improve seizure control in adults with refractory epilepsy?
A proportion of people with epilepsy continue to have seizures despite all conventional treatment options. The classical ketogenic diet and its variants have been shown to help some of these people. However, these diets require significant medical and dietician supervision,and is frequently not well tolerated. There is a need to develop other diet therapy that is easier to administer and more acceptable to the patient. This trial undertaken in adult overweight UCLH out-patients examines the effect of an intermittent fasting diet on seizures. Subjects may consume their normal diet for 5 days a week. On 2 days in a week, they consume only 25% of their daily calorie requirement. Subjects will continue on the diet for 6 months. Such a calorie restriction is expected to affect a number of signalling pathways to reduce seizure occurence. This trial is supported by the Epilepsy Society, Chalfont, UK.REC name
London - Harrow Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1647
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion