The Effect of Total Starvation and Ketogenic Diet on Serum Thyroid Hormone Levels in Children with Epilepsy
Keywords:
starvation hypothyroidism
1982 Volume 14 Issue 2 Pages 179-193
Details
1982 Volume 14 Issue 2 Pages 179-193
To disclose the thyroid hormone changes in the hypoenergetic states of man, eight children with epilepsy, aged 5 years and 8 months in average, with body weight of 19.0 ± 4.3 kg (mean ± SD), were observed during the total fasting of 180 hours and for the successive period of 4: 1 ketogenic diet therapy which were carried out for the purpose of antiepileptic treatment. Serum T4, T3, reverse T3 (rT3), TSH and prolactin (PRL) levels were measured at frequent intervals.
Each patient demonstrated a transient rise of rT3 by 60 hours of total fasting and then marked reduction of all thyroid hormones (T4, T3, rT3) by the end of 180 hours' fasting. Serum T3 level reduced about 80% of its pre-fast level. Both TSH and PRL remained at low levels during starvation.
All thyroid hormones, TSH and PRL were recovered to the pre-fast level after taking 4: 1 ketogenic diet.
This study concluded that the reduction of peripheral thyroid hormone levels and of activity of hypothalamo- pituitary-thyroid axis during the fast was closely related to caloric deprivation, and thus this phenomenon was named as starvation hypothyroidism. Its biological implication was speculated as a natural, purposeful reaction of the body to spare the energy and body protenis.
