title: Efficacy of the Atkins diet as therapy for intractable epilepsy.
abstract: The ketogenic diet is effective for treating seizures in children with epilepsy. The Atkins diet can also induce a ketotic state, but has fewer protein and caloric restrictions, and has been used safely by millions of people worldwide for weight reduction. Six patients, aged 7 to 52 years, 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD 21287-1000, USA. ekossoff@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kossoff
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Krauss
authors.forename: Jane R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: McGrogan
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007662:Ketosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D012640:Seizures / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D008055:Lipids