http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...dc&sid=95832458
Low-Carb Diet May Curb Daytime Sleepiness
Wed Jun 30, 5:03 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A low-carbohydrate diet leads to modest improvements in daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy -- at least, if the results of a very small study are any indication.
People with narcolepsy fall asleep involuntarily during the daytime, even when it can be very dangerous to do so, such as when driving.
Dr. A. M. Husain, of Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, and colleagues examined the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on daytime sleepiness and other symptoms in nine patients with narcolepsy. The findings are reported in the medical journal Neurology.
The participants were asked to follow diet guidelines based on the popular Atkins approach. Their symptoms were assessed when the study began and after 2, 4, and 8 weeks, using three standard sleepiness tests.
One patient withdrew from the study due to an inability to adhere to the diet. In the remaining subjects, one of the tests showed a significant improvement in sleepiness, whereas the others did not.
Temporary side effects were observed in four patients. These included headache, leg cramps, irritability, and difficulty in concentrating.
Despite the encouraging findings, the researchers conclude that additional studies are needed to determine if the observed reduction in sleepiness was actually due to the low-carb diet or some other factor.
SOURCE: Neurology, June 22, 2004.