Use of the Atkins Diet for Children With Sturge Weber Syndrome
Completed · Phase 1
Conditions studied: Epilepsy, Sturge Weber Syndrome
In brief
This research is being done to find out if the Atkins Diet can be used safely and effectively to reduce seizures in children who have Sturge Weber syndrome. The ketogenic diet is a proven therapy for epilepsy, but can be difficult to use in children. The Atkins Diet is a high fat, high protein, low carbohydrate diet introduced in the 1970s to help with weight loss. It is different from the ketogenic diet in four major ways: no calorie restriction, no fluid restriction, no protein restriction, and is easy to start outside the hospital. People on the Atkins Diet become ketotic (produce high levels of ketones, a certain substance in the body), like patients on the ketogenic diet, and the investigators believe this may lead to seizure control. Children aged 2-18 with Sturge Weber syndrome and seizures at least monthly, who have used at least two anti-seizure drugs may join. 5 children in total will be enrolled.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT00639730
- Run by
- Johns Hopkins University
- People needed
- 5
- Starts
- 2006-05-01
- Expected to finish
- 2010-05-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2010-05-27
Who can join
Age: 2 and older, up to 18. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- 2-18 years
- Sturge Weber syndrome
- Monthly seizures (at least)
- Tried at least two anticonvulsants
You may not qualify if…
- Prior use of the Atkins or ketogenic diets
- Patients with non-epileptic seizures (pseudoseizures) will be excluded
- Patients that are pregnant or become pregnant during the study will be excluded
- High cholesterol
Where it is running
- Johns Hopkins Hospital — Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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