According to the researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, high-fat ketogenic diet used for the treatment of patients in order to put control over multiple, every day and fatal seizures is not only effectual, but also seems to have no long-lived side effects.

The ketogenic diet, which contains high-fat foods and less carbohydrate, is said to activate biochemical alterations, which eradicate seizure-causing short circuits in the signaling system of the brain.

Used as first-line treatment for infantile spasms and in kids whose seizures cannot be curbed with the help of medicines, high-fat ketogenic diet is really effectual but complicated and sometimes tricky to maintain. It can temporarily increase cholesterol level, harm development and, in some cases, cause kidney stones in addition to other fallouts.

Senior investigator Eric Kossoff, M. D., a pediatric neurologist and director of the ketogenic diet program at Hopkins Children's stated, "Despite its temporary side effects, we have always suspected that the ketogenic diet is relatively safe long term, and we now have proof."

"Our study should help put to rest some of the nagging doubts about the long-term safety of the ketogenic diet," he added.

The proof is based on a review of 101 patients aged between 2 to 26 years handled the ketogenic diet for a period of sixteen months and for up to 8-years at Hopkins Children's in the year 1993 and 2008.

At the time of the review, patients were off the diet anywhere between 8 months and 14 years. Around 80% of the patients stayed either seizure-free or had their seizures cut down by one-half.

The majority of patients' seizures did not deteriorate even years after quitting the high-fat ketogenic diet.

The results of the study have been published in the February version of the journal Epilepsia. (With Input from Agencies)