Efficacy and tolerability of modified Atkins diet in Japanese children with medication-resistant epilepsy.

Ten Japanese patients aged 1.5-17years with medication-resistant epilepsy were placed on the modified Atkins diet (MAD) for 3weeks during admission to our hospital. Dietary carbohydrate was restricted to 10g per day. We studied the efficacy of the diet regarding the seizure frequency and tolerability of the diet at the end of the 3weeks on the diet. Those who decided to continue the MAD at the time of discharge were followed up in the out-patient clinic to observe the effect of the diet on the seizure frequency. Three of the 10 patients could not continue the diet during the 3-week admission; one had rotavirus enterocolitis and the other 2 disliked the diet. Among the remaining 7 patients who could continue the diet for 3weeks, 3 achieved the seizure reduction; 2 became seizure-free and 1 showed about 75% reduction in the seizure frequency within 10days on the diet. All of these 3 patients continued the diet after the 3-week admission. The other 4 patients did not show a reduction of the seizure frequency by the end of the 3weeks on the diet. Two of them discontinued the diet on discharge. The remaining 2 still continued the diet at home and one became seizure-free 3months after the start of the diet. In total, 4 of 10 patients achieved>75% reduction in the seizure frequency, although relapse occurred in 2 of the patients, at 5months and 2years after seizure reduction, respectively. The MAD was effective and well-tolerated in children with medication-resistant epilepsy in Japan.