Diet Induced Ketosis for Brain Injury - A Feasibility Study

July 9, 2021 updated by: Jens Rikardt Andersen

Diet Induced Ketosis for Brain Injury - A Feasibility Study: A Ketogenic Diet With MCT Supplementation as a Potential Treatment for Brain Injury in Adults

Each year, approx. 100 patients with severe brain injury is admitted to the Clinic for Neurorehabilitation/TBI Unit, Rigshospitalet. Severe brain injury results in local oxygen deficiency and acid formation in the brain, which together destroys brain cells. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether it is possible to carry out a ketogenic diet therapy for patients with severe brain injury for six weeks. Ketosis has been shown to be neuroprotective during and after severe brain injury.

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

Abstract

At the Department of Highly Specialized Neurorehabilitation/Traumatic Brain Injury, Rigshospitalet (satellite department at Hvidovre Hospital), approximately 100 patients (pt.) are admitted with severe brain damage every year. From 2015 to 2017, 305 pt. were admitted. Out of the 305 pt., 162pt. (53%) had traumatic brain injury (TBI), 48pt. (16%) had apoplexy, 35pt. (12%) had other diagnoses (infections, tumors and almost drowning, etc.), 20pt. (7%) had spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and 24pt. (8%) had brain damage as a result of cardiac arrest.

TBI is a leading cause of injury-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study (2016), there were 27,08 million new cases of TBI globally in 2016. In Denmark, there were 17.302 new cases of TBI in 2016. Clinical studies have repeatedly shown major changes in cerebral energy metabolism after TBI. The secondary brain injury leads to metabolic cellular dysfunction, cerebral edema, and a complex injury cascade. The injury spread includes processes such as inflammation, edema, free radical damage, oxidative damage, ischemic injury, cerebral glucose metabolism disorder, and ion-mediated cell damage. Much of the neurological dysfunction that occurs in acute TBI also occurs in apoplexy, SAH and cerebral ischemia.

A very important adaptive metabolic response after brain injury is the utilization of alternative cerebral energy substrates, including lactate, but also ketone bodies (KB) such as β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetoacetate (AcAc). In addition to having a central role in the regulation of cerebral energy metabolism after brain injury, KB has other important neuroprotective properties, including attenuation of oxidative stress, apoptotic cell death, and microglial activation. Increasing KB metabolism through fasting or diet-induced ketosis promotes brain resistance to stress and injury, and attenuates acute cerebral injury. Therefore, supplementing with KB, e.g. through the use of a ketogenic diet (KD) with added medium chain fatty acids (MCT), has emerged as a potential non-pharmacological neuroprotective therapy.

KD has been used for many years for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in children and studies done on adults show promising results, but experience from several studies shows major compliance issues. KD has been shown to reduce cerebral edema and apoptosis, as well as improve cerebral metabolism and behavioral outcomes in TBI rodent models, but clinical human trials on adults with TBI are lacking. Apoplexy animal models show positive effects on pathological and functional outcomes of KD intervention or exogenous ketone administration. The only human trial of KD and apoplexy shows that KD is safe and tolerated by patients with acute apoplexy. Our hypothesis is that diet-induced ketosis will reduce the extent of secondary brain damage. The purpose of the trial is to investigate whether an intervention with a ketogenic diet supplemented with MCT is feasible for 6 weeks on hospitalized pt. with severe brain damage. This is the pre-study for a controlled study.

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.
12

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

  • Denmark
      • Hvidovre, Denmark, 2650
        • Clinic of Neurorehabilitation / TBI Unit, Rigshospitalet (Satellite Department on Hvidovre Hospital)

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:

  • Diagnosed with severe acquired brain injury (TBI, stroke, SAH, anoxic brain injury or neuroinfection)
  • Patients ≥ 18 years
  • Understand and speak Scandinavian language
  • Informed consent from patient or deputy consent if the patient is unable to give consent due to reduced state of consciousness
  • Expectation of prolonged hospitalization

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindication to a ketogenic diet
  • Dysregulated Diabetes Mellitus
  • Medicated for elevated triglycerides

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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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 with MCT
Ketogenic Diet supplemented with MCT everyday for 6 weeks.
Other: Ketogenic diet with added MCT
The intervention is a ketogenic diet consisting of KetoCal 2,5:1 LQ MCT Multi Fibre (Nutricia), Liquigen (MCT)(Nutricia) and ketogenic meals provided by the hospital kitchen. The macronutrient composition of the ketogenic diet given approx.: Protein 11 E%, Carbohydrate 3 E%, Fat 86 E%.

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
Can the intervention be completed during 6 weeks hospitalization
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Yes/No, % of patients with intended b-BHB (b-BHB ≥ 0,5 mmol/L) in % of intervention days
6 weeks
The occurrence of adverse reactions related to the ketogenic treatment, specified
Time Frame: 6 weeks
% of days with adverse effects during intervention
6 weeks
Can patients accept the treatment
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Yes/No, % of intervention days
6 weeks

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
Change in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Score 3-15, higher score is better outcome
6 weeks
Change in Early Functional Abilities (EFA)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Total score 20-100, higher score is better outcome
6 weeks
Change in Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Change in Total score 18-126, higher score is better outcome
6 weeks
Change in Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Change in Score 1-7, higher score is better outcome
6 weeks
Change in Ranchos Los Amigos Scale (RLAS)
Time Frame: 6 weeks
Change in Score 1-8, higher score is better outcome
6 weeks

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.
Jens Rikardt Andersen

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Rigshospitalet, Denmark

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: Maria Edwards, Student, University of Copenhagen
  • Study Director: Jens R Andersen, MD,MPA, University of Copenhagen

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.
October 5, 2020

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 9, 2021

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.
May 31, 2021

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).
March 6, 2020

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.
March 11, 2020

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.
March 16, 2020

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.
July 15, 2021

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.
July 9, 2021

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.
July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • U Copenhagen

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

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.

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