Efficacy of the Atkins diet as therapy for... : Neurology (original) (raw)

Efficacy of the Atkins diet as therapy for intractable epilepsy

• Eric H. Kossoff
• Gregory L. Krauss
• Jane R. McGrogan
• John M. Freeman

Neurology

61

(

12

)

:p

1789

-

1791

,

December 23, 2003

.

| DOI: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000098889.35155.72

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.