Potassium citrate supplements should be given to all epileptic children on the ketogenic diet (KD) to help reduce the diet’s increased risk of kidney stones, according to new research.
For almost a century, the KD has been recognised as an effective non-pharmacological treatment for epilepsy. Despite positive effects on seizure frequency, repeated studies have shown that the KD is associated with an increased prevalence of kidney stones, which occur in approximately six per cent of children on the diet.
The new research, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that of 198 children on the KD who were given a daily supplement of potassium citrate (Polycitra K) to alkalinise their urine and solubulise urine calcium, only four (two per cent) developed kidney stones, compared to 11 (10.5 per cent) of the 105 children who did not receive the supplement.
“We strongly believe that universal use of Polycitra K is warranted for all children who start on the KD, with clear benefits outweighing risks,” the research’s authors wrote.
“We advise initial education about the importance of regular Polycitra K use at the time of KD onset and subsequent reinforcement at each follow-up clinic.
“Additional studies may help to determine whether higher doses of Polycitra K would be completely preventive or could perhaps be combined with other supplements such as multivitamins to aid compliance.”