367: Dr. Eric Kossoff Treats Epilepsy With A ‘Modified Atkins’ Ketogenic Diet

Written on June 8, 2010

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Hello and welcome back to The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore!

Today Jimmy talks with legendary epilepsy specialist and Johns Hopkins researcher, Dr. Eric Kossoff. Do not miss one second as they compare notes on the latest in research of the ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy. Also discussed are other illnesses successfully treated or under investigation for response to low-carb diets and how to make a 5-grams-of-carbs-daily diet palatable to children! This is a podcast every parent who deals with a child suffering from seizures needs to hear.

LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE 367
- Dr. Eric Kossoff bio
- The Johns Hopkins Epilepsy Center
- The Ketogenic Diet: A Treatment for Children and Others with Epilepsy
- Dr. Kossoff’s Ketogenic Monthly News Feature
- The Charlie Foundation
- RELATED PODCAST: Dr. Deborah Snyder On The Low-Carb Cure For Epilepsy (Episode 282)

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Glenn

Nice one Jimmy, another great interview. Thanks!

http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog Jimmy Moore

THANKS Glenn! I met Dr. Kossoff in Seattle where he was one of the speakers at the Nutrition & Metabolism Society presentation and he is a dynamic and enthusiastic supporter of this way of eating for people afflicted with epilepsy.

Carolyn Follmer

I thought this was very interesting. I am hoping that ketogenic diets will become mainstream for health reasons as well as weight loss..That will be a happy day for all of us LCers.
Norm

Its possible that GLUCOSE is damaging parts of the brains of these children. That would also mean that GLUCOSE is damaging other cells over long periods of time in our body’s also, and by switching over to ketones allows our cells to start healing themselves (depending on one’s genetics). No other diet can come close to the obvious benefits of a diet that keeps us in ketosis. That’s the clue..if you’re on low-carb BUT not in ketoses..your cells are getting too much glucose, negating the healing effects of resting our cells thru the use of ketones. Just resting our cells from the constant bombardment of glucose can have a positive effect (such as resting the pancreas)allowing many to give up their diabetic medication.
LCforevah

It’s not just glucose damage, Norm. The nervous system in the human body needs dietary fat in order to develop properly. Up to the age of two, children need a very high fat diet to make sure that both brain and nerves develop well.

I wonder if epilepsy could be a result of low fat dietary habits foisted on youngsters by their fat phobic parents? We just don’t know so much. I’m sure there’s a genetic disposition for it, and it’s probably exacerbated by low fat eating.

The ketogenic diet was kept alive by nurses who had been trained in the format about thirty years ago, before all the new drugs for epilepsy were available. When doctors started having patients that wouldn’t respond to the drugs, someone remembered about the nurses and resurrected the protocol with their help. This was in the news about 4 or 5 years ago.
Tom N

Great interview. I would love for you to ask one of these experts for a definition of “ketogenic diet.” The doctors seem to use it to specifically mean the medical therapy diet with 95% fat where everything is meticulously weighed and counted. On the other hand, I’ve heard you refer to any diet that puts you in ketosis as being “ketogenic.” Which is correct?
Sonya

AWESOME Interview, Jimmy! I learned so much and shared this with several people at work today.
http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog Jimmy Moore

Tom, it’s both, although medically speaking any diet that puts your body into a state of ketosis spilling ketone bodies can be described as ketogenic. Most agree this is a carbohydrate intake under 50g daily with a high-fat intake.

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mary titus

I was quite pleased with the interview. I think one of the most important aspects of ketogenic diets is that improves health of the whole body which is why people tend to lose weight on it. The diet is anti-inflammatory which improves our metabolic health as well as neurological health. It improves our circulatory health. It is a domino affect the cleans out the sugar in our system. My son who is ADHD swears that it was sugar that caused his inability to focus and to remain calm in stressful situations. It caused his inability to sit still. Although he is now 22, he eats a ketogenic diet. He loves the food on this diet plus it makes him feel better.

What I would like to see is how this diet helps people with dystonia. I have a freind with this and I am soooo sure that he can be helped. Jimmy, great interview.

Mary
Mark Kelly

I have been on Adkin’s for 2 weeks now and I am showing no ketones in the urine. I am eating well below 10 grams of carbs a day. I have been eating eggs, unprocessed meat and tuna. I use Mayonnaise, not Mircle Whip. I am getting discouraged.