Starvation may lessen seizure activity, although the reasons why this occurs are unknown. For obvious reasons, starvation therapy is not recommended for you as a first-line treatment for seizures, but may help if your seizures are not well controlled on available medication therapies. The modified Atkins diet mimics a starvation state in the brain by restricting carbohydrates, which may decrease the frequency of your seizures.
Significance
Seizure activity can interrupt your normal activities of daily living and decrease quality of life. Simply stated, your brain sends messages to your body through electrical neurons and synapses. If these pathways become overly excited, the messages become garbled and a seizure ensues.
In order to function, your brain requires carbohydrates as fuel. The traditional ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate regimen. It is prescribed by a physician and carefully monitored by a dietitian. It features strict calorie, fluid, and protein measurement and sometimes restriction. The modified Atkins diet follows similar principles, but is much less restrictive. The carbohydrate restriction achieved by both diets forces your body to produce ketones, which are an alternative fuel source to use when carbohydrates are not available.
The exact reasons why using a modified Atkins diet can reduce the frequency of seizures are unknown. However, the general accepted theory is that the ketones produced by restricting carbohydrates may decrease the excitability of neurons and synapses, thereby reducing seizures.
Features
The modified Atkins diet limits carbohydrates to 10 g to 20 g daily and strongly encourages fat intake. Your food choices consist mainly of meats, cheese, non-starchy vegetables (such as lettuce, peppers, zucchini), sour cream, mayonnaise, salad dressing without added sugar, and beverages such as seltzer, unsweetened coffee and tea, diet soda, and water or flavored water.
With the modified Atkins diet, you don't have to restrict calories or fluid. You also do not need to weigh or measure foods, which allows you more freedom when eating outside the home. Children can consume a greater variety of foods and can "cheat" with some breads and cake products, as long as the total carbohydrates per day remain below the set amount prescribed.
Time Frame
The traditional ketogenic diet requires a multiple-day fasting period to create a starvation state. It is usually initiated in a hospital setting, and most often intended for children due to its low calorie composition. Foods are slowly introduced one by one until a desired level of ketones is produced by the body.
The modified Atkins diet does not require a fasting period like the traditional ketogenic diet. It can be started in one day at home and can sometimes be stopped successfully if your seizures resolve for a period of time.
Considerations
Your height, weight and calorie intake should be tracked periodically by a dietitian. Your blood and urine should be monitored every three months by a physician, and urine ketones should be checked once or twice a week at home while following the modified Atkins diet.
This diet is deficient in several vitamins and minerals that should be supplemented, including calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin C, B vitamins and selenium. Taking a multivitamin is strongly recommended to replace these nutrients.
Warning
Despite its reported help for seizures, the modified Atkins diet is not without risk, and you should be monitored by a qualified medical team including a neurologist and a dietitian. The diet may have undesirable side effects on your body, including low blood sugar, kidney stones, high cholesterol, constipation, heartburn and pancreatitis. Careful planning is essential in order to meet your recommended intake of vitamins and minerals.
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