Low Glycemic Index Treatment

Watching an epileptic child suffer from uncontrollable seizures is petrifying, but controlling, reducing, or eliminating those seizures with diet is possible. The Low Glycemic Index Treatment, or LGIT, was designed by Dr. Elizabeth Thiele, Ph.D. and registered dietician Heidi Pfeifer at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, to treat severe seizures. LGIT ensures the carbohydrates the child eats are low on the glycemic index. As with starting any new treatment, always consult your physician first.

Low Glycemic Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the main and most efficient source of energy in the body. Generally, carbohydrates are broken into two categories: simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Table sugar and white bread are examples of simple carbohydrates; they break down quickly during digestion to rapidly release glucose into the blood stream and causing a spike in blood sugar levels. That puts such foods high on the glycemic index. LGIT has children avoid simple carbohydrates. Unprocessed fruits and raw vegetables contain complex carbohydrates that are low on the glycemic index, and those foods are preferred in the LGIT program.

Benefits

The foods allowed in the LGIT are an efficacious and more palatable alternative than the foods in the ketogenic diet, or KD, which has been used since the 1920s. According to a study by the Pediatric Epilepsy Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, the LGIT reduced seizures for the majority of patients by greater than 50 percent.

Limitations and Side Effects

Children must be monitored closely to ensure compliance, as the diet will not work unless it is followed carefully. It is difficult and time consuming for families to learn to read food labels, learn glycemic index values, and plan menus. Weight loss and constipation are possible side effects, so children on LGIT should take mineral and multivitamin supplements. Also, it could take as long as 6 months to see results. In a study published in the May 2009 issue of "Epilepsia," researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital reported the LGIT was associated with reduced seizure frequency in a large fraction of patients, with limited side effects.

Beyond Controlling Seizures

The benefits of LGIT go beyond controlling epilepsy. Eating foods that are low on the glycemic index is a healthy choice. Blood glucose levels are better controlled by eating foods containing complex carbohydrates low on the glycemic index. That can reduce the risks and effects of a range of disorders, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, and colon cancer.