A low carbohydrate ketogenic diet has been used effectively to reduce recurrent seizures in both children and adults. Originally developed in the early 1920s when good anti-seizure medications were not available, the ketogenic diet is high fat, adequate protein, low carbohydrate, similar to popular weight loss plans such as the Atkins diet.

In a Johns Hopkins study of children who had averaged 410 seizures a month and had not responded well to medication, researchers found that 7 percent of the children were seizure free after 12 months on the ketogenic diet while another 20 percent had a 90 percent decrease in seizures. The diet seems to be effective for most types of seizures but has negative effects on cholesterol and blood lipids.

[SOURCE: John M. Freeman, Eric H. Kossoff and Adam L. Hartman, “The Ketogenic Diet: One Decade Later,” Pediatrics, March, 2007]



Do Prenatal Habits Affect Seizure Risk?
                                                                       

Moderate consumption of coffee and alcohol by the mother during the prenatal period had no effect on a child’s risk for febrile seizures, according to a Danish study published in Pediatrics [November, 2005]. An effect caused by cigarette smoking could not be ruled out.
Previous studies of maternal habits and seizure risk have had conflicting results.

[SOURCE: Mogens Vestergaard, et al, “Prenatal Exposure to Cigarettes, Alcohol, and Coffee and the Risk for Febrile Seizures,” Pediatrics, November, 2005]



Seizures Affect School Performance
                                                                                   

Children with new onset seizures and recurrent seizures showed declines in ratings of school performance by their teachers, according to an Indiana University study published in Epilepsy and Behavior [March, 2007]. Children who went 24 months without additional seizures then showed academic improvement while those with recurrent seizures had continuing decline.

[SOURCE: Angela M. McNelis, et al, “Academic Performance in Children with New-Onset Seizures and Asthma: A Prospective Study,” Epilepsy and Behavior, March, 2007]