The author’s experience suggests that the MAD is similarly effective as the KD in reducing seizure frequency in children with medically resistant epilepsy.
Month: September 2015
A Pilot Study of The Modified Atkins Diet For Sturge–Weber Syndrome
The modified Atkins diet (MAD) is a dietary treatment for epilepsy which does not restrict fluids or calories. This theoretically makes the MAD safer than the ketogenic diet for children with Sturge–Weber syndrome (SWS). Five children aged 4–18 years with SWS and at least monthly intractable seizures were started prospectively on the MAD for 6 months. All children had urinary ketosis and seizure improvement, including 3 with >50% seizure reduction.
Modified Atkins Diet Therapy For a Case With Glucose Transporter Type 1 Deficiency Syndrome
The modified Atkins diet should be considered for patients with GLUT-1 DS as an alternative to the traditional ketogenic diet.
Use of a Modified Atkins Diet in Intractable Childhood Epilepsy
Six months after diet initiation, seven (50%) remained on the diet, five (36%) had >50% seizure reduction, and three (21%) were seizure free. The diet was well tolerated by 12 (86%) patients.
Various Indications For a Modified Atkins Diet in Intractable Childhood Epilepsy
A long-term treatment with the MAD was well tolerated. Moreover, the MAD can successfully substitute the classic KD in patients who showed improvement in seizure outcomes by the KD. 9 patients maintained the MAD with favorable seizure outcomes (a reduction of seizure frequency by over 50%) or successfully completed the diet therapy.
Efficacy of the Atkins Diet as Therapy For Intractable Epilepsy
Six patients were started on the Atkins diet for the treatment of intractable focal and multifocal epilepsy. Five patients maintained moderate to large ketosis for periods of 6 weeks to 24 months; three patients had seizure reduction and were able to reduce antiepileptic medications. This provides preliminary evidence that the Atkins diet may have a role as therapy for patients with medically resistant epilepsy.
When Do Seizures Usually Improve With The Ketogenic Diet?
The KD works quickly when effective, typically within the first 1–2 weeks. Starting the KD after a fasting periodmay lead to a more rapid, but equivalent long-term seizure reduction, confirming prior reports. If the KD has not led to seizure reduction after 2 months, it can probably be discontinued.
Ketogenic Diets: Evidence For Short- and Long-term Efficacy
This review discusses the animal and human evidence for both short- and long-term benefits of dietary therapies.
Will Seizure Control Improve By Switching From The Modified Atkins Diet to The Traditional Ketogenic Diet?
A higher incidence of improvement with the KD occurred for those with myoclonic-astatic epilepsy including all who became seizure-free.
Dietary Therapies for Epilepsy
The two major nonpharmacologic treatments for patients with epilepsy are neurostimulation devices (e.g. vagus nerve stimulators) and dietary treatments (ketogenic). In this review, we will cover the latter treatments, namely, using diets.