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   Low-carb, high-fat diets may reduce seizures in tough-to-treat epilepsy   
   epilepsy   
      
   Generalized 3 Hz spike and wave discharges in a child with childhood absence   
   epilepsy. Credit: Wikipedia.   
      
   Diets high in fat and low in carbohydrates, such as the ketogenic or modified   
   Atkins diet, may reduce seizures in adults with tough-to-treat epilepsy,   
   according to a review of the research published in the October 29, 2014,   
   online issue of Neurology, the    
   medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.   
   Epilepsy is a nervous system disorder in which the nerve cells in the brain   
   work abnormally, causing seizures. About 50 million people have epilepsy   
   worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.   
      
   "We need new treatments for the 35 percent of people with epilepsy whose   
   seizures are not stopped by medications," said study author Pavel Klein,   
   M.B.,B. Chir., of the Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center in Bethesda, Md.,   
   and a member of the American    
   Academy of Neurology. "The ketogenic diet is often used in children, but   
   little research has been done on how effective it is in adults."   
      
   The ketogenic and modified Atkins diets include items such as bacon, eggs,   
   heavy cream, butter, leafy green vegetables and fish. The ketogenic diet   
   consists of a ratio of fat to protein/carbohydrates of three or four to one by   
   weight. The modified Atkins    
   diet has a one-to-one fat to carbohydrate/protein ratio by weight.   
      
   Scientists reviewed five studies on the ketogenic diet with a total of 47   
   people included in the analysis and five studies on the modified Atkins diet   
   with 85 people included.   
      
   Researchers found that across all studies, 32 percent of people treated with   
   the ketogenic diet and 29 percent of those treated with the modified Atkins   
   diet experienced a 50 percent or better reduction in their seizures. Nine   
   percent in the ketogenic    
   treatment group and 5 percent in the modified Atkins group had a greater than   
   90 percent reduction in seizures.   
      
   The positive results occurred quickly with both diets, within days to weeks.   
   The effect persisted long-term, but, unlike in children, the results did not   
   continue after participants stopped following the diet. Side effects of both   
   diets were similar and    
   not serious, with weight loss the most common side effect.   
      
   Fifty-one percent of the ketogenic diet group and 42 percent of the modified   
   Atkins group stopped the diet before the study was completed.   
      
   "Unfortunately, long-term use of these diets is low because they are so   
   limited and complicated. Most people eventually stop the diet because of the   
   culinary and social restrictions," said Klein. "However, these studies show   
   the diets are moderately to    
   very effective as another option for people with epilepsy."   
      
   Explore further: Low-carb vegan diet may reduce heart disease risk and weight   
   Journal reference: Neurology     
   Provided by American Academy of Neurology     
      
      
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