Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic and debilitating neurological disorder, with a worldwide prevalence of
0.5–1% and a lifetime incidence of 1–3%. An estimated 30% of epileptic patients continue to experience
seizures throughout life, despite adequate drug therapy or surgery, with a major impact on society
and global health. In recent decades, dietary regimens have been used effectively in the treatment of
drug-resistant epilepsy, following the path of a non-pharmacological approach. The ketogenic diet
and its variants (e.g., the modified Atkins diet) have an established role in contrasting epileptogenesis
through the production of a series of cascading events induced by physiological ketosis. Other dietary
regimens, such as caloric restriction and a gluten free diet, can also exert beneficial effects on
neuroprotection and, therefore, on refractory epilepsy. The purpose of this review was to analyze
the evidence from the literature about the possible efficacy of different dietary regimens on epilepsy,
focusing on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, safety, and tolerability both in pediatric
and adult population. We believe that a better knowledge of the cellular and molecular biochemical
processes behind the anticonvulsant effects of alimentary therapies may lead to the development of
personalized dietary intervention protocols.
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TBI Rehabilitation 