title: Exploring the relationship between preferences for high fat foods and efficacy of the ketogenic and modified Atkins diets among children with seizure disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous research has indicated that children with seizures may prefer high fat foods - a preference compatible with ketogenic and modified Atkins dietary therapies. The purpose of this prospective study was to examine the relationship between fat preference and efficacy of therapeutic diets in treating intractable seizures among a pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preference for high fat foods was directly assessed in a sample of 30 children prior to commencing either the ketogenic or modified Atkins diet. Seizure control was assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following diet initiation. Using an intent-to-treat analysis, correlations between fat preference and diet efficacy were examined at each follow-up and across the follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At individual follow-ups, correlations between fat preference and diet efficacy varied in terms of both strength and significance; however, modest, positive correlations with fat preference were significant when examining high levels of efficacy (100% seizure reduction, ≥90% seizure reduction) across a 1-year follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings provide preliminary evidence that fat preference, when directly assessed, may be a useful predictor of treatment efficacy for the ketogenic and modified Atkins diets; however, further research is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Psychology, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: Amari@kennedykrieger.org.
authors.forename: Adrianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amari
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The John M Freeman Pediatric Epilepsy Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Zahava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The John M Freeman Pediatric Epilepsy Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rubenstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Psychology, The Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, The John M Freeman Pediatric Epilepsy Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Eric H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kossoff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; D055423:Diet, Ketogenic; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats
keywords: Children; Food preference; Ketogenic diet; Modified Atkins diet; Seizures