Children with a diagnosis of epilepsy experience a pattern of recurring seizures. There are many different forms of seizure, and different types of epilepsy. Your child's experience of epilepsy is unique, and decisions about seizure control -- medications and diet -- should only be made after consultation with a medical provider. Anti-epileptic drugs are the most common form of seizure control for children with epilepsy. However, some children with epilepsy have experienced a reduction in drug-resistant seizure activity through adherence to a modified version of the popular Atkins diet.
Ketones
Stanford University neurology physicians Maslah Saul and Robert Fisher, in a 2010 article titled "Overview of Epilepsy," discuss the potential of ketones to reduce the number of seizures. Ketones are produced by your body when fat is metabolized for energy, and ketogenic diets are designed to prompt fat metabolism. Ketogenic diets -- like the Atkins diet -- limit carbohydrate consumption, instead emphasizing consumption of fats and proteins. A ketogenic diet is not beneficial for every individual with epilepsy.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet is similar to the traditional ketogenic diet prescribed for certain children with epilepsy. Like the ketogenic diet, the Atkins diet limits carbohydrate consumption while allowing relatively high consumption of fats and proteins. Unlike the ketogenic diet, the Atkins diet does not limit overall fluid intake. The Epilepsy Therapy Project, a nonprofit organization that publishes epilepsy information online, indicates that a modified version of the conventional Atkins diet can be effective in reducing seizure frequency for some individuals with epilepsy.
Indications
Ketogenic diets have been used as part of the treatment for children with epilepsy since the 1920s. Use of these diets has proved more effective in children than in adults, with greatest effectiveness noted among children under the age of 12. Additionally, this type of diet seems most effective when the seizures a child experiences are of the "drop seizure" variety, including atonic and tonic seizures. Despite significant publicity surrounding successful application of ketogenic diets for people with epilepsy, Drs. Saul and Fisher indicate a ketogenic diet -- such as the Atkins diet -- will not help most children with epilepsy.
Warnings
A June 2008 study published in "The Lancet" medical journal indicates that several short-term side effects are likely when your child follows the Atkins diet for purposes of ketone production and seizure control. The most frequent side effects noted after three months in this study were hunger, lack of energy, constipation and vomiting. Furthermore, following a high-fat diet such as the Atkins program can -- over time -- increase your cholesterol levels. Ketogenic diets for seizure control should only be undertaken with medical supervision.
