Can Atkins Diet Help for Epilepsy?

What happens during fasting

In the early 1900s, it was discovered that fasting reduces the occurrence of seizures. This is suggested to be the result of a metabolic shift that happens in the body during the fasting period.

As such, when people fast, carbohydrates reserves become depleted in the body. Hence, the liver can’t produce glucose from carbs anymore.

Subsequently, since glucose is the primary source of energy for the body and brain, the body will be forced to look for an alternative source of energy in order to survive. 

This will force the body to move into a metabolic shift in which the liver starts metabolizing fat and producing ketones, instead of burning carbohydrates and producing glucose.

These ketones become the alternative source of energy for the brain. It has been noticed that when ketones are being used as a source of energy, seizures occurrence and frequency became reduced.

This is suggested to be due to the possible role of ketones in improving the brain’s functions and enhancing the brain’s energy compared to glucose. Furthermore, ketones are believed to reduce the hyperexcitability of the neurons compared to glucose.

However, further studies are still required to confirm what happens exactly and understand how this can affect the brain.

Why the Modified Atkins Diet helps treat Epilepsy

The Modified Atkins diet is a regimen very low in carbohydrate that allows unlimited fats and proteins. Plus, this regimen does not restrict calories and fluids.

Generally, when a person consumes carbohydrates, the liver converts them into glucose. Hence, by following the Modified Atkins diet and limiting carbs consumption, the quantities of glucose produced by the liver become reduced.

This would regulate the level of glucose in the body and decrease the body’s big reliance on glucose for energy.

Subsequently, the body will be using ketones as an alternative source of energy along with glucose. This will help in reducing the neuronal hyperexcitability and results in controlling and limiting the frequency of seizures. 

Several researches and studies support the use of the Modified Atkins diet to treat epilepsy as it has provided a great outcome. The results received through the various clinical studies are re-assuring and very promising.

How the Modified Atkins Diet works for Epilepsy

The Modified Atkins diet is an eating plan that mimics the fasting state by restricting carbohydrates.

While on this type of diet, the body is forced to look for an alternative source of energy besides glucose in order to survive. This happens mainly because carbohydrates are no longer available to produce glucose in sufficient quantities. Accordingly, the body will turn into burning fat. 

Subsequently, the liver starts producing ketones derived from fat instead of glucose that is derived from carbohydrates. These ketones become the additional source of energy that will be used along with glucose by the body and the brain. 

By reducing the body reliability on glucose mainly for energy, and adjusting the level of glucose available in the body, this will help in controlling and preventing seizures by reducing the excitability of neurons in the brain.

Research and studies suggest that abnormal glucose levels, whether too high or too low, can affect the extracellular metabolism in the brain, hence causing epilepsy seizures.

Furthermore, a recent study titled “Glycolytic inhibition: A novel approach toward controlling neuronal excitability and seizures” shows that a possible mechanism for decreasing neuron excitability in the brain and reducing seizures could include the presence of ketone bodies as an energy source rather than glucose.

The Modified Atkins diet foods for Epilepsy

The Atkins diet restricts carbohydrate and stresses on fat while limiting protein, thus it is beneficial for epilepsy. However, the Modified Atkins diet is more restrictive, which is even better for epilepsy. This diet is generally followed for 3 months and depending on seizure frequency the length of the diet will be adjusted.

The Modified Atkins diet promotes foods that are considered low in carbohydrates or carbohydrate-free for consumption. These include:

-    Fish and seafood

-    Pork, turkey, and chicken

-    Eggs

-    Non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, lettuce, cucumber, kale, asparagus…

-    Unrefined oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, walnut oil… 

-    Full fat dairy including butter, heavy cream, sour cream, and hard cheeses that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates such as blue cheese, American cheese, Swiss, cheddar, feta …

-    Herbs and spices

The Modified Atkins Diet for Epilepsy: What you should Avoid

The Atkins diet restricts carbohydrates consumption and tends to eliminate many foods based on their carbohydrate content. Accordingly, the diet removes the following foods from the regimen:

- All types of grains, legumes, and starches

- Sugar and alternative sweeteners

- Sugar sweetened beverages and drinks

- Most fruits and vegetables that are high in carbohydrates

- Starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn

- Vegetables oils like corn oil, canola oil, soybean oil …

- Condiments including bagged sauces and mixes

- Most dairy products that are high in carbohydrates such as milk, yogurt, and cottage cheese

- Alcohol

- Reduced fat and diet products

The Modified Atkins diet for Epilepsy: precautions

There are several side effects that might come along when you follow a low carbohydrate diet such as the Atkins diet. When there is an elimination or even restriction of carbohydrates from the diet, symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, headaches, sleep disturbances, trouble breathing, irritability and mood swings, and bad breath might occur. 

Digestive problems also happen with the Atkins diet due to several reasons such as constipation and diarrhea. Even nausea might follow as a result of inadequate fiber intake secondary to carbohydrate restriction. 

Another important factor to pay attention to is nutritional deficiencies. Certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies are prevalent when omitting a food group or certain food types. The Atkins diet restricts carbohydrates and fruits, and this increases the risk of nutritional deficiencies.

Additional precautions for patients with Diabetes

An additional complication can happen if the body is accumulating high amounts of ketone bodies that can show up in the blood and urine.

This is known as a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and is a serious complication for patients with diabetes.

It can be life threatening and dangerous, and therefore people following an Atkins diet should always do proper monitoring and conduct regular tests to check their blood and various health indicators.