Modified Atkins Diet

The Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) is a type of Ketogenic Diet used to to treat Epilepsy. The MAD started by accident, when a child was put onto the Adkins diet prior to starting the Ketogenic Ratio Diet and their seizures stopped. The MAD is similar to the induction phase of the Adkins diet, with children allowed 10 grams/day of carbohydrate rather than the 20 grams/day allowed for adults.

• The Ketogenic Ratio of the MAD is typically between 1.5:1 and 2:1, though the MAD does not restrict protein so the ketogenic ratio could be much lower.
• Unlike the Ketogenic Ratio Diet, the MAD does not restrict calories.
• Only Carbohydrate is restricted: Children start on 10 g/day for a month, then 15g/day, rising to 20-30g depending on seizure control. Adults start on 15 g/day, rising to 20-30 g/day after a month.
• Adding a Nutricia Ketocal shake to the MAD raises the Ketogenic Ratio to 1.8:1 which in turn raises the success rate from 50% to 80%. The additional Ketocal shake is only needed in the first month of the MAD. (The Ketocal shake has a 4:1 Ketogenic Ratio.
• Unlike other the Ketogenic Ratio Diet, the MAD does not start with a hospital stay or a fast.
• Going from the MAD to the traditional ketogenic diet resulted in 37% having at least a 10% improvement in seizures, but only a few became seizure free and no child that had no improvement on MAD had an improvement on the traditional ketogenic diet.
• There have been no reported cases of kidney stones on MAD.

1 See Also

• The classifications and types of Low Carbohydrate Diet.
• An introduction to the Ketogenic Diet.
• My experiences with ultrarunning on the Ketogenic Diet
  • How the Ketogenic Diet can be used for the treatment and management of disease.
    • Using the Ketogenic Diets to mitigate and treat Epilepsy
    • How Ketogenic Diets might help with Cancer
    • A look at the possible mechanisms of action of the Ketogenic Diet
  • Health Risks of the Ketogenic Diet
    • Health Checks for the Ketogenic Diet
    • Supplements for the Ketogenic Diet
  • The time frame and changes that occur with Ketoadaptation
  • What are Ketones
    • How to measure Ketones
    • What ketone levels to aim for
  • The pros and cons of the Ketogenic Diet for athletes
    • The Science of Ketogenic Exercise
  • The Types of Ketogenic Diet
    • The "traditional" Ketogenic Diet based on the Ketogenic Ratio
      • The ways the Ketogenic Ratio can be calculated
        • The different definitions of Net Carbohydrates
    • Low Glycemic Index Treatment
    • MCT Diet
      • MCT
    • Modified Atkins Diet (M.A.D.)
• My Ketogenic Recipes
• Non-Ketogenic Low Carbohydrate Diets