Q: I saw a movie several years ago, supposedly a true story, of a woman’s persistence in finding a cure for her son who suffered severe grand mal seizures. She ended up at a clinic where a doctor had come up with a diet that stopped seizures in many people. If this was in a movie, why is this never heard of as a treatment plan?
A: I believe the movie to which you refer is “First Do No Harm” that starred Meryl Streep. Grand mal seizures present with a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. They are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain and may, in some instances, be triggered by health issues such as stroke , hypoglycemia, infection, traumatic head injury, and more. The brain’s nerve cells commonly communicate with each other by sending electrical and chemical signals. For those that suffer from grand mal seizures, that electrical activity fails to function properly and a seizure occurs.
Those at an increased risk include users of illicit drugs or an indulgence in heavy alcohol consumption, a family history of the disorder, and sleep deprivation.
Some individuals may experience an aura or warning prior to the attack. The individual may be aware of an unusual smell, may cry out, or experience a numb feeling. There are two stages of this form of seizure – tonic and clonic. During the initial phase, muscles will contract, causing the person to fall to the ground and lose consciousness. This occurs in about 20 seconds or less. During the latter phase, the muscles will contract and be rhythmic. This can last for about two minutes. The patient may lose bladder and/or bowel control during or following the attack. Once the attack is over, he or she may appear unresponsive and drained of strength. Temporary disorientation is common and the patient may complain of a headache.
Now, on to diet for prevention. A modified high protein, low carbohydrate Atkins diet is reported to significantly cut the number of seizures in adults with epilepsy according to a study performed at Johns Hopkins. Reporting on the results in a previous issue of Epilepsia, an assistant professor of neurology and pediatrics at that facility studied 30 adults between the ages of 18 and 53 diagnosed with epilepsy and reported having an average of 10 seizures each week. Each previously tried at least two anti-convulsant drugs without success before being placed on the modified Atkins diet. Results revealed almost one third halved the frequency of the seizures within a three month period and a third of the test studies dropped out by the third month because they were unable to comply with the strict restrictions. This is why physicians typically recommend the diet only for children whose parents can strictly monitor their eating habits and according to the report, it is almost never prescribed to adults because they generally make their own choices of what to eat and consequently have difficulties complying with the strict guidelines so vital to the program.
More than 80 years ago seizures were treated by fasting. In the 1920s a ketogenic diet was introduced. It surfaced again in the 1990s and is used today for children through their teenage years when conventional treatments fail and again when two or more medications have been prescribed but fail to reduce the frequency of seizures. The diet is low in carbohydrates, has adequate protein, and is high in fat. The amount of food and liquid provided at each meal must be weighed and precisely planned, a feature that typically involves a dietitian or nutritionist with special training. Approximately one third of children on this diet become seizure free; however, there are side effects to be considered, such as constipation, possible gall stones, kidney stones and dehydration. The diet also lacks some essential vitamins that may require supplements. Adult women may experience menstrual irregularities, a decrease in bone density, and inflammation of the pancreas. The diet is only begun under strict medical supervision. Keep in mind that the ketogenic diet has never been evaluated in a scientific study.
Additional information can be obtained from the Charlie Foundation. Log on to Charliefoundation.org.
