Dietary therapy is an approach to helping control seizures, usually in conjunction with seizure medications. The ketogenic diet, a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, is prescribed and monitored by a physician and nutritionist and can help control seizures in some people. Additionally, the modified Atkins diet, which has some similar components to the traditional ketogenic diet, can be effective. This section presents information and monthly updates about these dietary therapies and others and how they might be helpful to people with epilepsy.

Monthly Feature: With today's renewed interest in diet and health, in January 2007 we were pleased to announce the creation of an exciting new feature on epilepsy.com, a recurring monthly section highlighting new advances in the use of dietary therapies for epilepsy. Now after nearly 2 years, this section is almost a "mini-book" with many valuable articles about how to make the diet work better for you or your child. This feature is edited by Eric Kossoff, MD, from Johns Hopkins Hospital, who is also a member of the epilepsy.com editorial board. He is the Medical Director of the Johns Hopkins Hospital Ketogenic Diet Program. This section includes new information helpful for patients, parents, and caregivers who receive or provide diets for the treatment of epilepsy. Cutting edge research, as well as helpful hints, is presented. This monthly feature will also continue to include stories from the Charlie Foundation and Matthew's Friends, a parent support group in the United Kingdom.

If there are specific topics you would like to see covered, please contact Dr. Eric Kossoff at ekossoff@jhmi.edu. We welcome your input. We look forward to hearing from you!

This month's feature article

Missed one of our features? Check out the monthly archives to read features from past months.

Ketogenic Diet International Physicians: We introduced the Ketogenic database of physicians in January 2007. Look here for a list Dr. Kossoff compiled of physicians who were involved with working with patients on the ketogenic diet.

Ketogenic Diet USA Physicians

Dr. Kossoff is an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics and a member of The John M. Freeman Pediatric Epilepsy Center, as well as the Division of Pediatric Neurology. He is the Medical Director of their ketogenic diet center. He is also a member of the editorial board of epilepsy.com. His clinical practice specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood seizures and epilepsy, especially approaches other than medications. Dr. Kossoff has a special clinical and research interest in the ketogenic diet and the modified Atkins diet for both children and adults. He is a coauthor of Treatment of Pediatric Neurologic Disorders and the 4th edition of The Ketogenic Diet along with Dr. John Freeman.