The Role of Milk Nutrition and Ketogenic Diet in Epileptic
Disorders

This chapter explores the role of the gut-brain axis, ketogenic diet, and cow’s milk allergy on
epileptic seizures, with a special focus on childhood. Milk nutrition is particularly relevant for
normal growth and health in childhood; however, some studies report an association between
cow’s milk allergy and epileptic events. It is necessary to clarify the role of protein
polymorphisms in these events and the influence of milk protein fractions on gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. The rationale for the discussion assumes that appropriate
nutrition in infants offers the possibility of minimizing diet-induced proinflammatory
mediators in the brain, and at the peripheral level. The putative role of diet on inflammation
and intestinal microbiome in infants with generalized epilepsy are presented. Furthermore, the
potential benefits of ketogenic diet along with non-bovine milk alternatives to manage epilepsy
in children are discussed. CLICK TO REVIEW

Keywords: childhood epilepsy; cow’s milk allergy; gut-brain-axis in epilepsy; ketogenic diet
for epilepsy; nutrition and epilepsy