PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Eric H. Kossoff
AU  - Gregory L. Krauss
AU  - Jane R. McGrogan
AU  - John M. Freeman
TI  - Efficacy of the Atkins diet as therapy for intractable epilepsy
AID  - 10.1212/01.WNL.0000098889.35155.72
DP  - 2003 Dec 23
TA  - Neurology
PG  - 1789--1791
VI  - 61
IP  - 12
4099  - http://n.neurology.org/content/61/12/1789.short
4100  - http://n.neurology.org/content/61/12/1789.full
SO  - Neurology2003 Dec 23; 61
AB  - The ketogenic diet is effective for treating seizures in children with epilepsy. The Atkins diet can also induce a ketotic state, but has fewer protein and caloric restrictions, and has been used safely by millions of people worldwide for weight reduction. Six patients, aged 7 to 52 years, were started on the Atkins diet for the treatment of intractable focal and multifocal epilepsy. Five patients maintained moderate to large ketosis for periods of 6 weeks to 24 months; three patients had seizure reduction and were able to reduce antiepileptic medications. This provides preliminary evidence that the Atkins diet may have a role as therapy for patients with medically resistant epilepsy.