Grants Institution: Johns Hopkins Children's Center Principle Investigator: Eric Kossoff, M.D. Category: Epilepsy Study Name: A Modified Atkins Diet for the Treatment of Intractable Pediatric Epilepsy Summary: This study examined 20 children (ages 3 to 18) who were having between 4 and 470 seizures a week and whose illness was unresponsive to drug therapy. The children were put on a regimen that included fewer carbohydrates than the standard Atkins diet, for six months. Of the 16 who completed the study, 13 had a greater than 50 percent improvement in seizures, seven had a greater than 90 percent improvement and four were seizure-free. A third of patients did not benefit from the diet. Side effects overall were low. Status: Completed Results: Presented to meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, Washington, D.C., 12/5/05; published in Epilepsia, Vol. 47, No.2, 2006 The Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Foundation c/o National Philanthropic Trust, 165 Township Line Road, Suite 150, Jenkintown, PA 19046-3593