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The Charlie Foundation was established in 1994 in order to raise
awareness about the ketogenic diet as a treatment for childhood
epilepsy. The modern success of the diet has led to new demands
on the medical community. In order to meet these demands, the
Charlie Foundation has expanded its priorities to include educational
programs for dietitians and neurologists as well as support for
clinicians and researchers working to perfect its administration
and discover its mechanisms.
For over eighty years it has been known and documented by many of this country’s
finest medical institutions that after the failure of the first antiepileptic
drug the ketogenic diet controls epilepsy in children with difficult to control
seizures at a significantly higher rate than any drug or combination of drugs.
The Epilepsy Foundation of America reports, “When carefully managed by
a medical team familiar with its use, the diet helps two out of three children
who are treated on it and may prevent seizures in one out of three children.”
While such observations suggest a powerful and general mechanism of action,
little is known about how or why the diet works, and which of its many metabolic
effects are critical for an antiepileptic response.
Nearly half a million children in America live with epilepsy. A renewed interest
in the ketogenic diet has brought together many of the best minds in pediatric
epilepsy research to combat this centuries old problem.
The Charlie Foundation’s role is to facilitate investigations, educate
professionals, and inform families about the current status of the ketogenic
diet. Hopefully these efforts will bring us closer to preventing, controlling,
and curing pediatric epilepsies.
Introductory Video to the Ketogenic Diet
Directed by Jim Abrahams, Starring Meryl Streep
In this video, parents and children speak frankly about the initial concerns
and the problems they had in starting and adhering to the diet. The video,
narrated by Meryl Streep, shows the step-by-step preparation of the meals,
and the options available on the diet. The parents also discuss various queries
and concerns they had (mostly about the cholesterol levels which might result
from a diet so rich in fats, including whipping cream drinks) and how their
questions were answered and fears allayed.
To order an Introductory video to the Ketogenic Diet send a written request
and a check for $10.00 (shipping and handling) to:
The Charlie Foundation To Help Cure Pediatric Epilepsy
1223 Wilshire Blvd #815
Santa Monica, CA 90403-5406
