Hypercalcemia in Children Using the Ketogenic Diet: A Multicenter Study
Abstract
CONTEXT: The ketogenic diet is associated with progressive skeletal demineralization, hypercalciuria, and nephrolithiasis. Acute hypercalcemia has been described as a newly recognized complication of this treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics of acute hypercalcemia in children on the ketogenic diet through analysis of the presentation, response to treatment, and natural history in a large cohort of patients.
DESIGN: A multicenter case series was performed including children who developed acute hypercalcemia while treated with the ketogenic diet. Information on clinical presentation, treatment, and course of this complication was collated centrally.
RESULTS: There were 14 patients (median (range) age 6.3 (0.9 to 18) years) who developed hypercalcemia 2.1 (range, 0.2-12) years after starting the ketogenic diet. All had low levels of parathyroid hormone and levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were low in all except one. Seven (50%) had impaired renal function at presentation. All except the 2 oldest had low alkaline phosphatase levels for age. Once normocalcemia was achieved, hypercalcemia recurred in only 2 of these patients over observation of up to 9.8 years. One patient discontinued the ketogenic diet prior to achieving normocalcemia while 4 more stopped the diet during follow-up after resolution of hypercalcemia.
CONCLUSIONS: Ketotic hypercalcemia can occur years after starting the ketogenic diet, especially in the setting of renal impairment. The…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 14 participants or records.
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