The Effect of the Ketogenic Diet on Adiponectin, Omentin and Vaspin in Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Abstract

Background: Changes in adipokine secretion may be involved in the anti-epileptic effect of a ketogenic diet (KD) in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). Objectives: The assessment of the influence of KD on serum adiponectin, omentin-1, and vaspin in children with DRE. Methods: Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI, and waist-to-hip circumference ratio) were performed in 72 children aged 3–9 years, divided into 3 groups: 24 children with DRE treated with KD, 26—treated with valproic acid (VPA), and a control group of 22 children. Biochemical tests included fasting glucose, insulin, beta-hydroxybutyric acid, lipid profile, aminotransferases activities, and blood gasometry. Serum levels of adiponectin, omentin-1 and vaspin were assayed using commercially available ELISA tests. Results: Serum levels of adiponectin and omentin-1 in the KD group were significantly higher and vaspin—lower in comparison to patients receiving VPA and the control group. In all examined children, serum adiponectin and omentin-1 correlated negatively with WHR and serum triglycerides, insulin, fasting glucose, and HOMA-IR. Vaspin levels correlated negatively with serum triglycerides and positively with body weight, BMI, fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR. Conclusion: One of the potential mechanisms of KD in children with drug-resistant epilepsy may be a modulation of metabolically beneficial and anti-inflammatory adipokine levels.

The Effects of Ketogenic Diet on the Immune System: A Meta-Analysis

“…Consequently, the studies suggest that there is potential for an increase in the strength of the intervention groups' immune systems due to the intake of the ketogenic diet, unlike the control group. Finally, the average p-value of the research articles was p = 0.09, with 15 out of the 20 studies being considered as statistically significant in that that they had p values less than 0.05 at 95% CI [1], [2], [3], [4], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [19], [20], [21], [22]. For that reason, more than half of the research studies used in the current meta-analysis failed to reject their null hypotheses that the ketogenic diet had a positive effect on the human immune system.…”

“…Many healthcare systems are recently focusing on promoting healthy and balanced diets among populations to decrease their risk of experiencing chronic non-communicable diseases. By promoting the consumption of foods that are rich in a wide range of nutrients, healthcare systems have decreased the risk of populations getting ill, thereby decreasing the costs incurred due to the provision of patient care services to manage diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart conditions among others [1], [2], [4], [21]. However, to achieve such a goal, healthcare systems must illustrate the effectiveness of various diets and nutritional intakes in contributing towards an improved human immune system.…”

“…One of such findings was that the ketogenic diet improved the immune system since it is effective in decreasing the risk of uncontrolled epilepsy and various forms of cancer [1], [12], [13], [14], [15], [10], [18], [21]. Another finding is that the ketogenic diet may also negatively affect the immune system characterized by its high-fat content, especially unsaturated fat, which may result in a high risk of cardiovascular diseases [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [22]. Therefore, a controversial hypothesis Disclaimer/Publisher's Note: The statements, opinions, and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s).…”

Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis: The Obstacles We Face in Determining a Non-Invasive Test and Current Advances in Biomarker Detection

“…Adiponectin (GBP-28) is a protein hormone found in both white and brown adipose tissue and involved in the regulation of glucose levels as well as the breakdown of fatty acids [60]. It has three main polymeric forms: the low-(LMW), middle-(MMW), and high-molecularweight complexes (HMW) [61]. However, the reported expression levels of adiponectin vary.…”

Identification of Adipocytokine Pathway-Related Genes in Epilepsy and Its Effect on the Peripheral Immune Landscape

“…Xu et al found that both intranasal leptin delivery and direct injection of leptin into the cerebral cortex could result in partial excitatory inhibition of hypothalamic neurons, thus exerting an antiepileptic effect [ 12 ]. Besides, the antiepileptic effect of the ketogenic diet (KD) in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) also appears to be associated with adipocytokine levels [ 13 ].…”