Effect of Classic Ketogenic Diet Versus Modified Atkins Diet over Electro-Encephalogram Findings in Children with Refractory Epilepsy

ABSTRACT Ketogenic diet (KD) is well known for control of refractory epilepsy. We wanted to study the effect of the two types of diets: classic KD and modified Atkins diet (MAD) with Indian foods to children of refractory epilepsy on electroencephalogram (EEG). To determine the effect of KD on EEG on children with refractory epilepsy. Ethics Committee approval was taken for randomized controlled trials. Sixty-five children of refractory epilepsy of 6 months to 12 years’ age from two tertiary care teaching institutes, of Pune and Mumbai, were selected and allocated to one of the two types of diets, classic KD and MAD, and followed over a period of 6 months. EEG was done in the beginning, at 3 months, and at 6 months of completion of therapy with standard techniques. The relationship of EEG findings at 3 months follow-up was statistically non-significant, but at the end of 6 months, when overall improved activity on EEG was compared, it had a significant difference of P-value = 0.01, stating KD better than MAD. Classic KD is better than MAD.