Author: Kossoff EH et. al
Source: Neurology 2003; 61: 1789-1791.
The ketogenic diet is becoming a more commonplace treatment to treat intractable seizures in children. The basis of the diet is using a high fat, moderate protein and very low carbohydrate diet to induce ketosis(an excess of chemicals called ketones in the blood). The ketosis is thought to be the mechanism that controls the seizures. One of the challenges of this diet is that many of the foods are not that enjoyable and high amounts of fat must be used to maintain this diet-any alterations can take a child out of the ketotic state and their seizures may return.
The researchers wanted to see if using the popular Atkins diet would also work to control seizure activity. It was thought that children would more easily accept this diet (as there are fewer diet restrictions) and thus make it easier to follow and maintain the ketotic state.
Six patients who had previously failed other treatments to control seizures (including the ketogenic diet) were enrolled in the study. They varied in age from 7-52 years. They were followed for a varying amount of time (average of about 7 months) on the Atkins diet. Weight, urinary ketone levels and calcium levels were all monitored. There were no changes made to any seizure medication for at least 2 months. Three of the six subjects experienced better seizure control with the use of the Atkins diet. One family found the diet too restrictive and stopped the diet. By checking the participants urine, moderate to large ketone levels were observed in five of six study participants. Of interest, the best seizure control was observed in the two youngest patients (ages 7 and 10) while the oldest two patients (ages 42 and 52) had the worst control and could not maintain large ketone levels in their urine (which would mean they were no longer in ketosis).
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