Is there a role for diet monotherapy in adult epilepsy?

Mackenzie C. Cervenka, MD; Bobbie J. Henry-Barron, RD; Eric H. Kossoff, MD

doi:10.1016/j.ebcr.2016.09.005

Epilepsy and Behavior Case Reports (Jan 2017)

Is there a role for diet monotherapy in adult epilepsy?

Mackenzie C. Cervenka, MD,
Bobbie J. Henry-Barron, RD,
Eric H. Kossoff, MD

Affiliations

Mackenzie C. Cervenka, MD: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 2-147, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
Bobbie J. Henry-Barron, RD: Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
Eric H. Kossoff, MD: Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 2-147, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebcr.2016.09.005
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7, no. C
pp. 6 – 9

Abstract

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Ten adults were treated with ketogenic diet monotherapy for epilepsy. Four patients were naïve to antiseizure drugs (ASDs), and six previously tried and stopped ASDs. Of four treatment-naïve participants, two (50%) were free from disabling seizures on Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) monotherapy for >1 year. Two (50%) stopped. Four of six patients (67%) who had previously tried ASDs became seizure-free on diet monotherapy, and two experienced >50% seizure reduction. Side effects included amenorrhea, weight loss, osteoporosis, and hyperlipidemia. Diet monotherapy may be feasible, well-tolerated, and effective for adults with epilepsy who refuse pharmacotherapy and those for whom lifelong diet therapy is recommended.

Published in Epilepsy and Behavior Case Reports

ISSN: 2213-3232 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/epilepsy-and-behavior-case-reports/

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Abstract

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