Atkins Diet for Difficult-to-Control Headaches in Teenagers

Johns Hopkins University10 enrolled

Overview

This is a 3-month pilot study of 10 adolescents with chronic daily headache. Teens will be placed on a modified Atkins diet and followed with 2 subsequent visits to assess for headache improvement.

Patients are placed on the diet and followed with various measures for 3 months. If the diet is helpful it is continued. Patients are still being enrolled as of 9/6/06.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Chronic Daily Headache

Interventions

Modified Atkins dietBEHAVIORAL

15 grams of carbohydrates per day - high fat diet

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 12 YearsMax age: 19 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Ages 12-19 * Minimum 15 headaches/month for at least 3 months * Tried 2 preventative medications previously Exclusion Criteria: * Prior use of the Atkins diet for more than 1 week * Pregnancy * Significant heart or kidney disease * Dangerously underweight * Using acute pain medications more than 11 days in the past month * Medications being changed

Locations (1)

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Headaches

Time frame: 3 months

Secondary Outcomes

Ketosis

Time frame: 3 months

Diet duration

Time frame: as long as tolerated

Quality of life (PedsMIDAS)

Time frame: 3 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.