The potential benefits of a low glutamate diet as treatment in a pediatric cohort with epilepsy

Glutamate is an important neurotransmitter in the body which mediates seizure activity. Current diets prescribed for people with epilepsy lack nutrients that may help with reduced seizure frequency; thus, the potential of a low glutamate diet (LGD) may be a favorable treatment adjunct for a pediatric cohort (2 to 21 years; ≥4 seizures per month) with epilepsy.
This study highlights seizure reduction in 21% of participants and non-seizure improvements for 63% of participants. Additionally, an LGD increased nutrient and antioxidant intake; however, 53% of participants had adverse events.
According to the authors, an LGD diet can be used as a treatment adjunct before drug-resistant epilepsy manifests in children and adolescents.