 First reported in 2003 , the idea of using a form of the Atkins diet to treat epilepsy came about after parents and patients discovered that the induction phase of the Atkins diet controlled seizures . The ketogenic diet team at Johns Hopkins Hospital modified the Atkins diet by removing the aim of achieving weight loss , extending the induction phase indefinitely , and specifically encouraging fat consumption . Compared with the ketogenic diet , the modified Atkins diet ( MAD ) places no limit on calories or protein , and the lower overall ketogenic ratio ( approximately 1 : 1 ) does not need to be consistently maintained by all meals of the day . The MAD does not begin with a fast or with a stay in hospital and requires less dietitian support than the ketogenic diet . Carbohydrates are initially limited to 10 g per day in children or 20 g per day in adults , and are increased to 20 – 30 g per day after a month or so , depending on the effect on seizure control or tolerance of the restrictions . Like the ketogenic diet , the MAD requires vitamin and mineral supplements and children are carefully and periodically monitored at outpatient clinics . 
