Of the 21 Hopkins absence-epilepsy patients who were treated between 1993 and 2009 with either the ketogenic or the modified Atkins diet, 76 percent reported at least half as many seizures with one month of being on the diet. Nearly 40 percent of them reported 90 percent fewer seizures, while nearly 20 percent became seizure-free. After three months of diet treatment, 82 percent had at least a 50-percent reduction in the number of seizures, nearly half of the patients had 90 percent fewer seizures, and nearly 20 percent had no seizures at all. Both diets worked equally well.

Among the 133 patients described to date in the medical literature, 69 percent experienced at least 50 percent or greater reduction in the number of daily seizures, and 34 percent became seizure-free for at least a period of time. Some patients improved within three days of starting the diet, while others didn't do so until three months later.

Co-investigators include Laura Groomes, Paula Pyzik, Zahava Tuner, Jennifer Dorward, and Victoria Goode, all of Hopkins.

The study was funded in part by the Carson Harris Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Foundation and Nutricia Inc.

Source : Johns Hopkins Children's Center