] Re: Questions related with seizure

January 30, 2010

Hi, this abstract talks about improvements in autism on the ketogenic diet, but

it's not about seizures. Seeing as the ketogenic diet is seen to improve

seizures, this might kill two birds with one stone.

Regards

Glynis x

Child Neurol. 2003 Feb;18(2):113-8.

Application of a ketogenic diet in children with autistic behavior: pilot study.

Evangeliou A, Vlachonikolis I, Mihailidou H, Spilioti M, Skarpalezou A,

Makaronas N, Prokopiou A, Christodoulou P, Liapi-Adamidou G, Helidonis E,

Sbyrakis S, Smeitink J.

Department of Paediatrics, Medical School, University of Crete, Crete, Greece.

evangeli@...

A pilot prospective follow-up study of the role of the ketogenic diet was

carried out on 30 children, aged between 4 and 10 years, with autistic behavior.

The diet was applied for 6 months, with continuous administration for 4 weeks,

interrupted by 2-week diet-free intervals. Seven patients could not tolerate the

diet, whereas five other patients adhered to the diet for 1 to 2 months and then

discontinued it. Of the remaining group who adhered to the diet, 18 of 30

children (60%), improvement was recorded in several parameters and in accordance

with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Significant improvement (> 12 units of

the Childhood Autism Rating Scale) was recorded in two patients (pre-Scale:

35.00 +/- 1.41[mean +/- SD]), average improvement (> 8-12 units) in eight

patients (pre-Scale: 41.88 +/- 3.14[mean +/- SD]), and minor improvement (2-8

units) in eight patients (pre-Scale: 45.25 +/- 2.76 [mean +/- SD]). Although

these data are very preliminary, there is some evidence that the ketogenic diet

may be used in autistic behavior as an additional or alternative therapy.

PMID: 12693778 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

>

> Kate,

> The hospital should do a full diagnostic workup and not just start on meds

without investigation.

> Apart from AEDs, some people respond well to the ketogenic diet, which is

difficult to do but I have read that some people have found a modified Atkins

diet helps (ie low carbs). I have no experience of either diet.

> My son has had 3 nocturnal seizures now and we have just started him off on

B6/P5P again as this is what worked last time.I dare say we will be going back

to the Paediatric Neurologist at Addenbrooke's again - haven't seen him for

about 5 years!

> Margaret

>

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