Table 3.
Summary of studies involving adults treated with the modified Atkins diet (mAD) in refractory seizure patients
| References | Study type | Number |
Ages
(year) |
Diet type | > 50% decrease (%) |
Seizure
free (%) |
End point
(month) |
% dropout before
end of study |
Adverse side effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kossoff, et al.7 | Prospective | 30 | 18-53 | mAD (carbohydrate restriction 15/day) |
47% had a > 50% seizure reduction after 1 and 3 months on the diet; 33% after 6 months. |
0 | 6 months | 53 | Lethargy, weight loss, elevated total cholesterol, leg swelling |
| Carrette, et al.8 | Prospective | 8 | 31-55 | mAD (carbohydrate restriction 20/day) |
33% after 6 months | 0 | 6 months | 62.5 | Vomiting, headache, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, weakness, weight loss, elevated total and LDL cholesterol |
| Smith, et al.9 | Prospective | 18 | 18-55 | mAD (carbohydrate restriction 20/day) |
12% had a > 50% seizure reduction after 3 months; 28% after 6 months, and 21% after 12 months |
0 | 12 months | 22 | Weight loss (desired), left arm jerks |
mAD: Modified Atkins diet