Atkins May Benefit Epileptic Children
Study: Atkins Similar To Often-Used Ketogenic Diet
POSTED: 4:37 p.m. EST December 9, 2003
The low-carbohydrate, high-fat Atkins diet has been gaining popularity in recent years with people looking to shed unwanted pounds.
But researchers from Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore say the diet might also play a role in preventing seizures in children with epilepsy.
But the researchers caution that their study is preliminary -- it included only six patients. They said the findings shouldn't cause other epileptic children to switch to an Atkins diet.
Right now, children with seizures that are difficult to control are often put on a rigorous high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. While the Atkins diet is similar to the ketogenic diet, it's slightly less restrictive.
The ketogenic diet mimics some of the effects of starvation, in which the body first uses up glucose and glycogen before burning stored body fat. In the absence of glucose, the body produces ketones, a chemical byproduct of fat that can inhibit seizures.
In the Hopkins study, five of the six patients studied attained ketosis within days of starting the Atkins diet, and most of the patients reported that the diet controlled their seizures.
"We just don't know yet how effective the Atkins diet is in reducing seizures or if it comes close to the benefits of the ketogenic diet, but our report raises new questions about the ideal level of calorie and protein restriction imposed by the ketogenic diet," said Dr. Eric Kossoff, the study's lead author and a pediatric neurologist at the Children's Center.
Kossoff said it's possible that some children who can't tolerate the restrictiveness of the ketogenic diet could be helped with the Atkins diet instead.
He said that if children were to lose an unhealthy amount of weight on the Atkins diet, the patient would be instructed to eat more fats and proteins.
Previous Stories:
- August 8, 2003: Study Looks At Epilepsy Drugs Vs. Surgery
- March 19, 2003: Atkins-Like Diet May Help Kids With Epilepsy
- January 21, 2003: FDA Approves Epilepsy Drug For Children
- September 23, 2002: Epilepsy Drug May Fight Headaches
Copyright 2003 by clickorlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Jason Rodriguez is formally charged with first-degree murder and ordered to be held on no bond on charges he shot five people, killing one in a downtown office building on Friday.
| Arrest | Suspect
Ida has become a tropical storm again, with top winds of 45 mph, as it swirls in the Caribbean on a track that could bring it to the U.S. Gulf Coast next week.
A final police report into the murder-suicide that left a Heathrow family of four dead details the couple's former swinging lifestyle and a gambling habit.
Local 6 wants to keep you up to date on growing crime trends in our community and make you aware of ways you may be able to prevent being victimized.
Images and hundreds of pages of documents related to the Casey Anthony case are released by the state attorney's office.
Local 6 News, led by investigative reporter Mike Holfeld, will host an interactive experience on Monday at 6:30 p.m. with viewers, including a phone bank and online chat with homeowners association experts.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.
Eric Flack goes inside a controversial swingers club in suburban Cincinnati.
A South Carolina man caught on video having sex with a horse has been sentenced to three years in prison for abusing the animal.
Police release the name of the victim killed in a shooting at an Orlando high-rise and file first-degree murder charges against the suspected shooter. 
Take a quick look at the flicks headed to your multiplex. Check out the trailer, too.
Hundreds of photos in the Casey Anthony case are released.
At least six people were shot at an Orlando high-rise, officials say.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
