"Application of a Ketogenic Diet in Children with Autistic Behavior"

Original Article

Application of a Ketogenic Diet in Children with Autistic Behavior: Pilot Study

Athanasios Evangeliou, Ioannis Vlachonikolis, Helen Mihailidou, Martha Spilioti, Astrinia Skarpalezou, Nikolaos Makaronas, Ahilleas Prokopiou, Panagiotis Christodoulou, Georgia Liapi-Adamidou, Emmanuel Helidonis, Stylianos Sbyrakis, Jan Smeitink (2003)

Dr. Lee "The first study I'll introduce examined the effect of the ketogenic diet in autistic children. The English title is 'Application of a Ketogenic Diet in Children with Autistic Behavior: Pilot Study' (Evangeliou et al., 2003). The study was conducted between 1999 and 2000 in the pediatric department of the University of Heraklion Hospital, recruiting 30 children aged 4 to 10 — 16 boys and 14 girls. Before the trial, all of the children were on haloperidol, a medication used for autism-spectrum disorder. Haloperidol is used to reduce aggression, hyperactivity, self-injury, and attention deficit. It is a neuroleptic also used in schizophrenia, with possible movement-disorder side-effects."

Dr. Lee "The first 4 weeks were on the ketogenic diet, followed by 2 weeks of free eating. Most ketogenic-diet studies use animal-based ingredients, which causes high mid-study dropout. In this study as well, of the 30 starters, only 18 remained at the end. I expect future plant-based ketogenic studies will have higher retention."