COMPARISON OF DIET THERAPIES FOR EPILEPSY
                    QUESTIONS                                                   Ketogenic                     MCT Oil                  Low Glycemic                Modified Atkins
                                                                                Therapies                                             Index Treatment
                    Is medical supervision required                                  Yes                          Yes                          Yes                           Yes
                    Is diet high in fat?                                             Yes                          Yes                          Yes                           Yes
                    Is diet low in carbohydrate?                                     Yes                          Yes                          Yes                           Yes
                    What is the ratio of fat to                               4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1          Approximately 1:1            Approximately 1:1             Approximately 2:1
                    carbohydrate & protein?
                                                                             8gm carb on a 4:1                                                                     10gm adolescents or 
                    How much carbohydrate is                                16gm carb on a 3:1                 40-50gm                      40-60gm              15gm adults for 1 month
                    allowed on a 1000 Calorie diet?                         30gm carb on a 2:1                                                                       20gm afterwards
                                                                          40-60gm carb on a 1:1 
                    How are foods measured?                                       Weighed               Weighed or measured          Measured or estimated               Estimated
                    Are meal plans used?                                             Yes                          Yes                          Yes                        Optional
                    Where is the diet started?                                    Hospital                      Hospital                      Home                         Home
                    Are calories controlled?                                         Yes                          Yes                          Yes                           No
                    Are vitamin and mineral                                          Yes                          Yes                          Yes                           Yes
                    supplements required?
                    Are liquids (fluids) restricted?                                 No                           No                            No                           No
                    Is a pre-diet laboratory                                         Yes                          Yes                          Yes                           Yes
                    evaluation required?
                    Can there be side-effects?                                       Yes                          Yes                          Yes                           Yes
                                                                         This is an individualized     An individualized            This is individualized       This diet focuses on 
                                                                         and structured diet           and structured diet          but less structured diet     limiting the amount 
                                                                         that provides specific        containing Medium            than the ketogenic diet.     of carbohydrate while 
                                                                         meal plans. Foods are         Chain Triglycerides          It uses exchange lists       encouraging fat. 
                                                                         weighed and meals             (MCT) which are highly       for planning meal and        Carbohydrate may be 
                                                                         should be consumed            ketogenic. This allows       emphasizes complex           consumed at any time 
                                                                         in their entirety for         more carbohydrate and        carbohydrates. The           during the day as long 
                    What is the overall difference in                    best results. The             protein than the classic     balance of low glycemic  as it is within limits and 
                    design of these diets?                               ratio of this diet can        ketogenic diet. A 2008       carbohydrates in             should be consumed 
                                                                         be adjusted to effect         study showed that            combination with fat         with fat. Suggested 
                                                                         better seizure-control        both diets are equal in      result in steady glucose     meal plans are used as 
                                                                         and also liberalized for      eliminating seizures. A      levels. It is not intended   a guide. Protein is not 
                                                                         better tolerance. This        source of essential fatty    to promote ketosis.          limited but too much is 
                                                                         diet is also considered       acids must be included                                    discouraged
                                                                         a low glycemic therapy        with this diet.
                                                                         and results in steady 
                                                                         glucose levels.
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