Abstract | PURPOSE: METHODS: Children aged 2-14 years who had daily seizures despite the appropriate use of at least three anticonvulsant drugs were enrolled. Children were randomized to receive either the modified Atkins diet or no dietary intervention for a period of 3 months. The ongoing anticonvulsant medications were continued unchanged in both the groups. Seizure control at 3 months was the primary end point. Analysis was intention to treat. Adverse effects of the diet were assessed by parental reports (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00836836). KEY FINDINGS: Among a total of 102 children, 50 were in the diet group and 52 in the control group. Four children discontinued the diet before the study end point, and three children in the control group were lost to follow-up. The mean seizure frequency at 3 months, expressed as a percentage of the baseline, was significantly less in the diet group: 59 ± 54 (95% confidence interval [CI] 44-74.5) versus 95.5 ± 48 (95% CI 82-109), p = 0.003. The proportion of children with >90% seizure reduction (30% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.005) and >50% seizure reduction was significantly higher in the diet group (52% vs. 11.5%, p < 0.001). Constipation was the most common adverse effect among children on the diet (23, 46%). SIGNIFICANCE:
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Authors | Suvasini Sharma, Naveen Sankhyan, Sheffali Gulati, Anuja Agarwala |
Journal | Epilepsia
(Epilepsia)
Vol. 54
Issue 3
Pg. 481-6
(Mar 2013)
ISSN: 1528-1167 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 23294191
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2013 International League Against Epilepsy. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Anticonvulsants
(therapeutic use)
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted
(methods)
- Epilepsy, Absence
(diet therapy, drug therapy, epidemiology)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Male
- Treatment Outcome
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