Clinical Trial of the Effects of DHA in the Treatment of Seizure Disorders
Clinical Trial of the Effects of DHA in the Treatment of Seizure Disorders
For many years, there has been interest in the question of whether a special diet of some
 sort could be used to help control epileptic seizures. The ketogenic diet has been used since
 the 1920s, but it is used only in children, and is nutritionally unbalanced. It is typically
 withdrawn after 3 years. The ketogenic diet unfortunately, offers no long-term solution to
 seizure control.

 Our preliminary research now suggests that there may be a healthy, long-term dietary approach
 to controlling seizures.

 Based on our animal work and published clinical studies the investigators hypothesize that a
 DHA dose of 3 g/day will reduce seizure frequency in patients with intractable seizures.
This will be a small, double-blind study involving placebo and 3 g/day of DHA. There will be
 a one-month baseline period, followed by a six month treatment period.

 1. Neurologists from the North York General Hospital or Toronto Western Hospital will refer
 patients being treated for intractable epilepsy.

 2. Patients will be contacted by phone by the study coordinator, who will explain the study
 and ask about willingness to participate. Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be
 discussed, as well as the patient's responsibilities. It will be made clear that there
 will be no cost to the patient.

 3. If patients are interested, a letter will be sent to them. The letter will contain a
 description of the study, the patient's responsibilities if he/she agrees to
 participate, and an explanation of informed consent.

 4. One week after the letter, the study coordinator will again contact the patients by
 phone, answer any questions, and

 - if the patient is willing to participate - set up the initial visit.

 5. At the initial visit, the study coordinator will give the subject written and verbal
 information. Patients will be asked to sign an informed consent form. They will be given
 a seizure diary, to keep during the first month (prior to treatment) and to continue for
 the six months of treatment. The diary will record the frequency/type of seizures.

 The study physician will review the medial history (seizure frequency/type), medications
 and blood work to be taken to measure serum levels of AEDs and n-3 PUFAs. About two
 teaspoons of extra blood will be taken and stored for possible future assays.

 The study coordinator will then provide the patients with their appropriate capsules for
 the first three months of the trial. The rest will be mailed. The patient will receive
 written instructions on how to take the capsules. Only the study coordinator will know
 the patients' group assignments. (A sealed back-up of the code will be left with Dr.
 Burnham.) Patients will be given the study coordinator's cell phone number with
 instructions to call if they feel unwell at any time. If serious problems occur, the
 study coordinator will refer patients to the Emergency Department.

 6. Weekly telephone calls: Participants will receive scheduled weekly telephone calls from
 the study coordinator to collect any information recorded in the seizure diaries during
 the one month baseline period continuing through the sixth month treatment period.

 7. After the last month of the trial, a second in-person visit will be scheduled to
 re-examine the patient, and order more blood work. (Two teaspoons of the blood will be
 reserved for possible future assays.) At the end of the visit, The study coordinator
 will debrief the patient and give him/her a letter of thanks from the P.I. The patient
 will then be told where he/she can purchase DHA if he/she wants to continue.

 8. Data will be analyzed by Dr. Burnham. After data analysis, patients will be informed
 about the results of the whole by letter.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Male or female, aged 18 years or older

 -  Female subjects must be using a form of contraception

 -  >1 seizures per month

 -  EEG confirmation of seizure activity (no non-epileptic seizures)

 -  Agrees to comply with study procedures, and keep seizure diary

 -  Agrees not to make any major deviations from current diet (especially fish intake) or
 medications (type, dosage)

 -  Agrees to having portions of blood samples stored for assays

 -  Has given voluntary, written, informed consent to participate in the study

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant during the
 course of the trial

 -  Use of significant amounts of fish oil or flax oil (omega-3) supplements within 8
 weeks of the study.

 -  Allergy or sensitivity to fish, fish oil, coconut oil, olive oil, hemp oil, safflower
 oil, flax seed oil, or soybean oil

 -  Cognitive impairment (I.Q. below 70) and/or inability to give informed consent.

 -  Failure to understand English

 -  Subjects taking regular warfarin or aspirin