A Novel Ketogenic Diet Reduces Seizure Severity and Prevents Fatty Liver in Epileptogenesis: Preclinical Findings

Synopsis

Drug-resistant epilepsy remains difficult to manage, and while the ketogenic diet (KD) can help reduce seizures, its high fat content often causes metabolic side effects and poor patient compliance. This study developed a new, lower-fat ketogenic diet enriched with nicotinamide riboside (NR), citrate, and omega-3 fatty acids to provide neuroprotection without relying solely on ketone production. In a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy, both the classic and novel KDs induced ketosis, but the new version had lower fat and ketone levels while still reducing seizure severity and preserving hippocampal neurons. The novel KD also improved motor behavior and lowered liver fat and blood triglycerides, reducing the risk of fatty liver disease associated with long-term ketogenic diets. These findings show that adding NR and other nutrients to a modified ketogenic diet can enhance its anti-seizure benefits while making it safer and more sustainable for epilepsy treatment.

Journal

Experimental Neurology