Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, adequate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet that leads to nutritional ketosis and weight loss. It is known to induce ketosis but is not an established cause of clinically significant ketoacidosis. Lactation ketoacidosis is well established in bovine literature...

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Main Authors: Benedicta Nneoma Nnodum, Eziafa Oduah, David Albert, Mark Pettus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Nephrology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1214208
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author Benedicta Nneoma Nnodum
Eziafa Oduah
David Albert
Mark Pettus
author_facet Benedicta Nneoma Nnodum
Eziafa Oduah
David Albert
Mark Pettus
author_sort Benedicta Nneoma Nnodum
collection DOAJ
description The ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, adequate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet that leads to nutritional ketosis and weight loss. It is known to induce ketosis but is not an established cause of clinically significant ketoacidosis. Lactation ketoacidosis is well established in bovine literature but remains a rare phenomenon in humans. Here we present a life-threatening case of severe ketoacidosis in a nondiabetic lactating mother on a strict ketogenic diet. We review the available case reports of lactation ketoacidosis in humans and the mechanisms thereof. Although ketogenic diet has been shown to be safe in nonpregnant individuals, the safety of this diet in lactating mothers is not known. Health professionals and mothers should be made aware of the potential risk associated with a strict ketogenic diet when combined with lactation. Prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment cannot be overemphasized. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of life-threatening lactation ketoacidosis associated with ketogenic diet while consuming an adequate number of calories per day.
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issn 2090-6641
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publishDate 2019-01-01
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series Case Reports in Nephrology
spelling doaj-art-b67c1fe36f3f4fbda5a6787e8467780a2025-08-20T02:23:08ZengWileyCase Reports in Nephrology2090-66412090-665X2019-01-01201910.1155/2019/12142081214208Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the LiteratureBenedicta Nneoma Nnodum0Eziafa Oduah1David Albert2Mark Pettus3Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA 01201, USABerkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA 01201, USABerkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA 01201, USABerkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA 01201, USAThe ketogenic diet (KD) is a high-fat, adequate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet that leads to nutritional ketosis and weight loss. It is known to induce ketosis but is not an established cause of clinically significant ketoacidosis. Lactation ketoacidosis is well established in bovine literature but remains a rare phenomenon in humans. Here we present a life-threatening case of severe ketoacidosis in a nondiabetic lactating mother on a strict ketogenic diet. We review the available case reports of lactation ketoacidosis in humans and the mechanisms thereof. Although ketogenic diet has been shown to be safe in nonpregnant individuals, the safety of this diet in lactating mothers is not known. Health professionals and mothers should be made aware of the potential risk associated with a strict ketogenic diet when combined with lactation. Prompt diagnosis and immediate treatment cannot be overemphasized. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of life-threatening lactation ketoacidosis associated with ketogenic diet while consuming an adequate number of calories per day.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1214208
spellingShingle Benedicta Nneoma Nnodum
Eziafa Oduah
David Albert
Mark Pettus
Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Case Reports in Nephrology
title Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_fullStr Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_full_unstemmed Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_short Ketogenic Diet-Induced Severe Ketoacidosis in a Lactating Woman: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
title_sort ketogenic diet induced severe ketoacidosis in a lactating woman a case report and review of the literature
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1214208
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