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Key Takeaways

• Brain energy metabolism can become an important consideration in some seizure disorders, particularly when treatment decisions involve metabolic therapies.
• Ketogenic diet therapy changes the brain’s available fuel sources by reducing carbohydrate intake and promoting the production of ketone bodies.
• Glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome illustrates how an underlying problem with glucose delivery to the brain can create a specific rationale for ketogenic therapy.
• Ketogenic therapy requires medical supervision because treatment can affect nutrition, blood chemistry, medications, kidney-stone risk, and other aspects of health.
• The potential role of metabolic therapy depends on the specific seizure disorder, diagnosis, previous treatment response, and individual safety considerations.