The Modified Atkins Diet demonstrates modest efficacy as cotherapy for some adults with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and may be also helpful for weight loss. Financial and logistical barriers were significant factors for those who declined enrollment and for those who discontinued the study.
Category: Epilepsy
Efficacy of the Atkins Diet as Therapy for Intractable Epilepsy in Children
Following three months of treatment with the Atkins diet, 16 patients (67%) had >50% decrease in seizure frequency, and 6 (25%) had >90% improvement, of whom 5 were seizure-free. Mean seizure frequency after the first, second and third months of treatment were significantly lower than at baseline. The Atkins diet can be considered as a safe and effective alternative therapy for intractable childhood epilepsy. Atkins diet was well tolerated in our patients with rare complications and it appears to demonstrate preliminary efficacy in childhood refractory epilepsy.
Comparison of Seizure Reduction and Serum Fatty Acid Levels After Receiving the Ketogenic and Modified Atkins Diet
Authors compared retrospectively the KD and modified Atkins diet in 27 children and also assessed serum long chain fatty acid profiles. We observed a preventive effect of both diets on the occurrence of status epilepticus. After 1 and 3 months of either diet, responders experienced a significant decrease in serum arachidonic acid concentration compared to non-responders. The KD and modified Atkins diet led to seizure reduction in this small pilot series, with slightly better results after 3 months with the KD, but not after 6 months.
Efficacy of dietary therapy for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
The modified Atkins diet was an efficacious adjunctive therapy for young adults with very medically resistant Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. After 1 month, 6 (75%) patients had >50% seizure reduction, and after 3 months, 5 (63%) patients had >50% improvement.
Transitioning pediatric patients receiving ketogenic diets for epilepsy into adulthood
It is important for adolescents with epilepsy receiving ketogenic diets to have transition plans in place for when they become adults. Adult epilepsy diet centers are the ideal option when possible.
Modified Atkins Diet for the Treatment of Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus in Children
The authors describe the use of a modified Atkins diet for the treatment of 2 children with nonconvulsive status epilepticus. The nonconvulsive status epilepticus disappeared 5 and 10 days after the initiation of the diet treatment, respectively. They have been on the diet treatment and free from nonconvulsive status epilepticus for 19 and 4 months, respectively. The modified Atkins diet appears to be very effective for the treatment of nonconvulsive status epilepticus.
Danish Study of a Modified Atkins Diet For Medically Intractable Epilepsy in Children: Can We Achieve The Same Results as With The Classical Ketogenic Diet
The author’s experience suggests that the MAD is similarly effective as the KD in reducing seizure frequency in children with medically resistant epilepsy.
Efficacy and Tolerability of Modified Atkins Diet in Japanese Children With Medication-Resistant Epilepsy
Seven Japanese patients aged 1.5–17 years with medication-resistant epilepsy were placed on the modified Atkins diet (MAD) for 3 weeks during admission to our hospital. Dietary carbohydrate was restricted to 10 g per day. Among the patients who could continue the diet for 3 weeks, 3 achieved the seizure reduction; 2 became seizure-free and 1 showed about 75% reduction in the seizure frequency within 10 days on the diet. The MAD was effective and well-tolerated in children with medication-resistant epilepsy in Japan.
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.
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.