Efficacy and tolerability of the modified Atkins diet in young children with refractory epilepsy: Indian experience - PubMed (original) (raw)

Efficacy and tolerability of the modified Atkins diet in young children with refractory epilepsy: Indian experience

Ranju Mehta et al. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2016 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Background: The modified Atkins diet (MAD) has been used predominantly in older children, adolescents, and adults. There is a paucity of data on the use of the MAD in refractory epilepsy in young children.

Objectives: This study was planned to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the MAD in refractory epilepsy in young children.

Methods: This study recruited children aged 9 months to 3 years with refractory seizures. Children received MAD for 6-month with the on-going anticonvulsant medications being continued unchanged. Reduction in seizure frequency was the primary outcome measure. Adverse effects were also studied.

Results: Thirty-one children with daily seizures were studied with a median age of 18-month (range 9-30 months). West syndrome was the most common epilepsy syndrome (26, 86.6%). Twenty-one children remained on diet at 3 months and 13 at 6 months. The children who achieved >50% seizure reduction were 17 (54.8%) at 3 months and 9 (29%) at 6 months. Refusal to eat was a significant problem seen in eight children. Three children discontinued the diet due to adverse effects.

Conclusion: The MAD was found to be feasible, effective, and well-tolerated.

Keywords: Dietary therapy; West syndrome; infantile spasms.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Flow of study participants

References

    1. Sharma S, Jain P. The ketogenic diet and other dietary treatments for refractory epilepsy in children. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2014;17:253–8. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kossoff EH, Krauss GL, McGrogan JR, Freeman JM. Efficacy of the modified Atkins diet as therapy for intractable epilepsy. Neurology. 2003;61:1789–91. - PubMed
    1. Kossoff EH, McGrogan JR, Bluml RM, Pillas DJ, Rubenstein JE, Vining EP. A modified Atkins diet is effective for the treatment of intractable pediatric epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2006;47:421–4. - PubMed
    1. Kang HC, Lee HS, You SJ, Kang du C, Ko TS, Kim HD. Use of a modified Atkins diet in intractable childhood epilepsy. Epilepsia. 2007;48:182–6. - PubMed
    1. Sharma S, Sankhyan N, Gulati S, Agarwala A. Use of the modified Atkins diet for treatment of refractory childhood epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial. Epilepsia. 2013;54:481–6. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources