High Dropout Rates for Modified Atkins Diet in Epilepsy Treatment

Source: Epilepsia

Summary

This study looked at adults with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) who were treated with the modified Atkins diet (MAD) at a specialized clinic. The researchers followed 80 patients over six years to understand why some people stopped following the diet. The average age of the participants was 29 years, and they had been living with epilepsy for about 21 years. Many of them had tried multiple medications without success.

The findings showed that a significant number of patients stopped the diet early. About 15% dropped out within the first month, and 20% left between 30 and 89 days. The main reasons for quitting included not sticking to the diet, feeling it wasn't working, experiencing side effects, and simply getting tired of the diet. Certain factors, like being female or having less severe epilepsy, were linked to a higher chance of stopping the diet sooner.

These results are important because they highlight that many adults with DRE may not stay on the MAD for long, even in specialized settings. Understanding why patients drop out can help healthcare providers offer better support and monitoring. However, the study has limitations, such as being conducted at a single center, which may not represent all patients with DRE. More research is needed to find ways to keep patients on the diet long enough to see if it can help them.

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