early research suggests. However, at least one expert has concerns.
In an open-label feasibility study, researchers assessed a liquid supplement known as K.Vita (Vitaflo International), which contains both decanoic acid and octanoic acid.
Although the study was small, the findings are promising, said coinvestigator Matthew Walker, MD, PhD, University College London Institute of Neurology, department of clinical and experimental epilepsy.
“The dietary supplement was reasonably well tolerated and while we weren’t specifically looking for efficacy here, we did see some patients had quite dramatic results in terms of reduced seizures,” Dr. Walker said.
Unlike the ketogenic diet, this dietary supplement is “very easy” to follow, involves only minor dietary modifications, and doesn’t require the intervention of a dietitian, he added.
The findings were published online July 23, 2021, in Brain Communications.
Key ingredients
In the ketogenic diet, the body uses body fat as its primary fuel source. The switch from carbohydrates to fat for body fuel results in built-up ketones.
Previous research shows the ketogenic diet is effective in reducing seizures in some patients with epilepsy. However, many patients find it difficult to tolerate, especially for extended periods. Dr. Walker also noted that ketones may have other long-term side effects, including osteoporosis.
He added that his team was keen to learn what elements of the ketogenic diet affect seizures. “Interestingly, we found that one of the fats used in the ketogenic diet, decanoic acid, has quite marked antiseizure effects,” Dr. Walker said.
Previous research has shown that decanoic acid, a medium-chain triglyceride–derived fatty acid, can cross the blood-brain barrier and decrease excitatory neurotransmission and network excitability in vitro.
Dr. Walker noted that ketones are necessary in order to reduce seizures.
“Rather than have a very high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that causes ketones, we thought ‘why don’t we use a diet in which we just use mainly this fat, this decanoic acid, and avoid ketosis,’ ” he said.
The researchers then went to work developing the K.Vita dietary supplement, which mainly contains decanoic acid but also another fat, octanoic acid.
Assessing feasibility
The feasibility study included 61 patients (59% female) who began taking the supplement. Of these, 35 were children (aged 3-18 years) and 26 were adults. The children had Dravet syndrome or another genetically driven form of epilepsy, while most of the adults had a focal epilepsy.
All participants had failed multiple antiseizure medications – a median of 3 for children and 10 for adults who completed the trial. Of the 61 original participants, 20 (19 children and 1 adult) had tried the ketogenic diet but had stopped it for various reasons, including noncompliance and lack of efficacy.
The liquid supplement was introduced gradually. The amount administered was based on weight in the children and was a standard amount in adults, with the target being 240 mL.
Participants consumed the supplement in equal servings taken at regular intervals as part of a meal or snack. They could take it alone or mix it with yogurt or another food.
Patients with feeding tubes took the supplement immediately before or after or mixed into an enteral feed, with a water flush afterward.
Researchers provided patients and caregivers with guidance on excluding highly refined sugary foods and beverages. Starchy foods such as bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes were not restricted.
The study consisted of three visits: baseline, 5 weeks, and 12 weeks, in addition to regular phone and email contact. Participants were also asked to keep a seizure diary.