Ketogenic Diet in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

May 10, 2022 updated by: Marc Goodman

Ke-To Liver Health Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Study the Effects of a 28-day Ketogenic Dietary Intervention on Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Progression

The purpose of this randomized trial is to examine the effects of a ketogenic diet on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Twenty-four participants with NAFLD will be randomized to receive a ketogenic meal plan or control (standard weight loss meal plan). Participants will be followed up to 28 days after initiation of the diet intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

We will conduct a randomized trial to examine the effects of a ketogenic diet on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Twenty-four participants with NAFLD will be randomized into one of two groups: 12 participants will be randomized to receive a ketogenic meal plan and 12 participants will be randomized to receive a standard weight loss meal plan. There will be one screening visit and three study visits: the baseline visit, and follow-up visits 14 days and 28 days after initiation of the diet intervention. The study team hypothesizes that participants randomized to a ketogenic diet will have a greater reduction in intrahepatic triglycerides compared to those randomized to a standard weight loss diet.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
24

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90048
        • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age greater than or equal to 18 years at enrollment
  • Diagnosis of NAFLD verified by screening MRI-PDFF greater than or equal to 8%
  • Women able to become pregnant must have a confirmed negative pregnancy test result prior to enrollment because MRI is contraindicated in pregnant women. Women ≥ 50 years of age who have not had a menstrual period in the past year; and women who have had a hysterectomy, both ovaries removed, or a tubal ligation; will not be required to have a pregnancy test.
  • Women able to become pregnant must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation.
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document and medical release
  • Willing and able to comply with trial protocol and follow-up

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior diagnosis of chronic liver disease other than NAFLD, including autoimmune, viral, and alcoholic liver disease

  • Prior diagnosis of liver cirrhosis as defined by any of the following criteria:

    • Cirrhosis on historical liver biopsy; or
    • Evidence of cirrhosis on liver imaging (CT, MRI, or US) including a nodular liver surface, splenomegaly, or portal venous collaterals; or
    • Prior history of decompensated liver disease, including ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or variceal bleeding; or
    • FibroScan value of >14.9 kPa; or
    • MRE of 4.67 kPa or higher
  • History of liver transplantation
  • Body mass index (BMI) less than 27 kg/m
  • Unstable body weight (> 10% change in prior 3 months)
  • Prior weight reduction surgery within the last 5 years
  • Use of a medication prescribed for weight loss within the past 3 months
  • Current alcohol consumption >21 oz. per week for males or >14 oz. per week for females (1 oz./30 mL of alcohol is present in one 12 oz./360 mL beer, one 4 oz./120 mL glass of wine, and one 1 oz./30 mL measure of 40% proof alcohol)

  • Unstable cardiovascular disease as defined by any of the following:

    • Unstable angina within 6 months prior to screening
    • Myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft surgery or coronary angioplasty within 6 months prior to screening
    • Transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident within 6 months prior to screening
    • Obstructive valvular heart disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
    • Unstable congestive heart failure
  • Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or are implanted with intrauterine devices that are not MRI-compatible
  • Active malignancy within the past 5 years (excluding basal/squamous cell skin cancer, or prostate cancer with a Gleason score 6 or less)
  • Known HIV infection
  • Food allergies or dietary restrictions, including vegan or vegetarian diet, which cannot be accommodated with the prepared meal service
  • Contraindication to undergo MRI-PDFF or MRE, including persons with mechanically, magnetically, or electrically activated implants, such as cardiac pacemakers or defibrillators, or infusion pumps; or ferromagnetic implants or foreign bodies, such as aneurysm clips or shrapnel; or other implanted electronic devices or metallic parts in the body prohibiting MRI. Because the MRI scanner is also used with animals, persons with allergy to animal dander or animal-instigated asthma are also excluded.
  • Resides outside of the meal delivery zone or plans to travel outside of the meal delivery zone for more than one day while on the study intervention and will be unable to access the meal delivery
  • Current use of any investigational agents
  • Concurrent illness or abnormal laboratory result which in the opinion of the investigators would compromise either the patient or the integrity of the data

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: NONE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
EXPERIMENTAL: Ketogenic Diet
Ketogenic Diet for 28 Days
Other: Ketogenic Diet
Ketogenic diet for 28 days. Meals will be provided to all study participants for 28 days by a prepared meal delivery service. Daily caloric needs for each participant will be determined based on height, weight, gender, age, and activity level. Meals will be prepared based on compliance with the following macronutrient guidelines: 70% fat, 25% protein, and 5% carbohydrate for the ketogenic diet.
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Standard Weight Loss Diet
Standard Weight Loss Diet for 28 Days
Other: Standard Weight Loss Diet
Standard weight loss diet for 28 days. Meals will be provided to all study participants for 28 days by a prepared meal delivery service. Daily caloric needs for each participant will be determined based on height, weight, gender, age, and activity level. Meals will be prepared based on compliance with the following macronutrient guidelines: 30% fat, 20% protein, and 50% carbohydrate for the standard weight loss diet.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean change in intrahepatic triglyceride content measured by MRI-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
The MRI-PDFF is a quantitative imaging test that exploits the differences in resonance frequencies between
28 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean change in liver stiffness measured by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
Stiffness will be measured by MRE (kPa), a quantitative imaging test that uses sound vibrations to assess the mechanical properties of the liver.
28 days
Mean change in liver enzyme, aspertate aminotransferase (AST), from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
AST will be measured from blood test at baseline and 28 days from diet initiation
28 days
Mean change in liver enzyme, Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
ALT will be measured from blood test at baseline and 28 days from diet initiation
28 days
Mean change in number of odors correctly identified using 40 microencapsulated odors in the smell identification test (UPSIT) from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
The University of Pennsylvania Smell IdentificationTest (UPSIT) uses 40 microencapsulated odors embedded in questionnaire accompanied by multiple choice questions containing the correct odor.
28 days
Mean change in perceived sweet taste tested with glucose solutions and a general Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS) from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
Sweet taste intensity will be rated on a 100mm general Labeled Magnitude Scale (gLMS) ranging from no sensation (0 mm) to strongest imaginable sensation (100 mm). The mean difference in scores will be calculated at 28 days following diet initiation and baseline.
28 days
Mean change in patient-reported cognitive function measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scale from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
Cognitive function will be assessed using the NIH Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) short form, which includes 8 items and a range of 1 to 5 (worst outcome). The total score will be calculated and converted into a standardized t-score will be calculated based on a standard population with a mean of 50 and SD of 10.
28 days
Mean change in patient-reported constipation measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scale from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
Constipation will be assessed using the NIH Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) short form, which includes 9 items and a range of 1 (low constipation) to 5 (high constipation). The total score will be calculated and converted into a standardized t-score will be calculated based on a standard population with a mean of 50 and SD of 10.
28 days
Mean change in patient-reported fatigue measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scale from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
Fatigue will be assessed using the NIH Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) short form, which includes 8 items and a range of 1 (low fatigue) to 5 (high fatigue). The total score will be calculated and converted into a standardized t-score will be calculated based on a standard population with a mean of 50 and SD of 10.
28 days
Mean change in physical activity measured by a wearable activity monitor from baseline to 28 days following diet initiation.
Time Frame: 28 days
A 7-day average at 28 days will be compared to 7-day baseline activity where at least 4 of 7 days of recorded activity required.
28 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Marc Goodman

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Marc Goodman, PhD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (ACTUAL)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 13, 2019

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 10, 2022

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 10, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
December 4, 2018

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 20, 2018

First Posted (ACTUAL)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 24, 2018

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 11, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 10, 2022

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IIT2018-27-Hussain-KetoLi

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings