Could a High-Fat diet replace drugs for kids with absence seizures?
NCT ID NCT04274179
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a modified Atkins diet (low carb, high fat) can control seizures in children aged 3-12 with newly diagnosed absence epilepsy, without using standard medications. Forty children will be enrolled and compared to a group whose parents chose medication instead. The goal is to see if the diet is a feasible and effective first-line treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Modified Atkins diet (low-carb, high-fat, moderate protein)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this diet could offer a drug-free option to control seizures in children newly diagnosed with absence epilepsy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with only 40 participants, and the diet is restrictive, which may be hard for children to follow long-term. It may not work as well as standard medications.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Johns Hopkins Hospital
RECRUITINGBaltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
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