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Use of a Modified Atkins Diet in Intractable Childhood Epilepsy
Author(s) -
Kang HoonChul,
Lee Hyun Sug,
You Su Jeong,
Kang Du Cheol,
Ko TaeSung,
Kim Heung Dong
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2006.00910.x
Subject(s) - tolerability , ketogenic diet , ketosis , epilepsy , medicine , adverse effect , pediatrics , intractable epilepsy , anesthesia , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus , psychiatry
Summary: Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a modified Atkins diet in intractable childhood epilepsy. Methods: Fourteen children with epilepsy were treated prospectively with a modified Atkins diet. Outcome measures included seizure frequency, adverse reactions and tolerability to the diet; blood β‐hydroxybutyrate and urine ketones were also measured. Results: 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. Most complications were transient and were successfully managed by careful follow‐up and conservative strategies. A consistently strong ketosis (β‐hydroxybutyrate of >3 mmol/L) seemed to be important for maintaining the efficacy of the diet therapy. Conclusions: The modified Atkins diet was well tolerated and sometimes a modified Atkins diet can be substituted for the conventional ketogenic diet. Serious complications were rare, but long‐term complications remain to be determined.