High-fat, low-carb diets offer seizure control benefits for persistent epilepsy - Epilepsy Research UK

A new study has reinforced the understanding that diets that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates can potentially reduce seizures in adults with hard-to-treat epilepsy.

Carried out by the Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center in Bethesda and published in the medical journal Neurology, the study reviewed a total of ten previous trials that involved prescribing patients with the ketogenic and modified Atkins diets, in order to monitor its benefits.

Both 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, while the modified Atkins diet has a one-to-one fat to carbohydrate/protein ratio by weight. Their benefits in children have been proven, but relatively little research has been conducted to see if they can also help adults.

Across all studies, 32 per cent of people treated with the ketogenic diet and 29 per cent of those using the modified Atkins diet experienced a 50 per cent or better reduction in their seizures.

Moreover, nine percent in the ketogenic treatment group and five per cent in the modified Atkins group saw a reduction in their seizures that was greater than 90 per cent. Positive results manifested quickly in a matter of days or weeks and persisted long-term, although - unlike with children - they did not continue if the diet was ceased.

Less encouraging was the fact that 51 per cent of the ketogenic diet group and 42 per cent of the modified Atkins group stopped the diet before the study was completed, highlighting ongoing adherence problems among those attempting to implement these complex diets.

Study author Pavel Klein, of the Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center, said: '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. However, these studies show the diets are moderately to very effective as another option for people with epilepsy.'

Posted by Anne Brown

Publication abstract: http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2014/10/29/WNL.0000000000001004

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