Our Ketogenic Diet Therapy Program, in collaboration with the Epilepsy Program at Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's, offers ketogenic diet therapy as a complementary treatment for children with epilepsy where traditional medications have failed. The ketogenic diet; a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, induces a state of ketosis in which the body uses fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. This metabolic change is believed to have anticonvulsant effects, although the exact mechanism is not fully understood.
Our program is carefully managed by a team of experts, including epileptologists - neurologists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, dietitians, advanced practice providers, psychologists and pharmacists specialized in the management of ketogenic therapies. Together they aim to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures through dietary management.
Families from across the country seek out our top-tier Epilepsy Program, which incorporates the ketogenic diet as one of its treatment strategies. Studies have shown the ketogenic diet can significantly reduce seizure frequency. While achieving total seizure freedom might not be possible for every child, about 10 to 15% of those who follow this therapy experience complete cessation of seizures, with many maintaining this success even after discontinuing ketogenic therapy.
Beyond the primary goal of seizure reduction, ketogenic therapies have been associated with improved alertness and awareness among patients. Although it is unclear how much of this improvement is directly related to this dietary therapy versus the reduction or elimination of seizure medications, the positive feedback from patients and families highlights this therapy’s potential benefits beyond seizure management.
As we continue to explore and refine this approach, our goal remains to offer effective, compassionate care that addresses both the medical and personalized needs of our patients and their families.
