Effects of Ketone Supplementation on Alcohol Withdrawal and Brain Metabolism in Alcohol Use Disorder (KSAW)

September 8, 2025 updated by: University of Pennsylvania
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the effects of ketone supplement compared to placebo on alcohol withdrawal symptoms during a 4 day alcohol withdrawal management treatment in adults with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Cedar Detox Center.

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

This is a 4-day randomized double-blinded intervention study of 30 treatment seeking adults with alcohol use disorder, who are receiving alcohol detoxification treatment at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Cedar Detox Center. Within 24 hours of admission to the inpatient unit, participants will be consented and randomized to receive 3x daily of 12g of KS (n=15; 1,3-butanediol and D-hydroxybutyric acid from Kenetik, VitaNav Inc., Washington D.C.) for 4 days or placebo beverage (n=15). Benzodiazepines and other "comfort" medications will be administered daily following the HUP Cedar withdrawal management protocol, with benzodiazepines administered based on withdrawal symptoms, monitored with the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol. The revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol is given three or more times a day clinically to determine patient withdrawal levels and adjust medication dosages. Total daily maximum revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol scores, benzodiazepine dosage, and other "comfort" medications will be analyzed with a repeated measures design, with a binary factor for intervention, factor of time, and intervention by time interaction. Daily mood questions and alcohol craving questions will assess differences between treatment groups. After 4 days of study intervention, all participants will undergo an approximately 1.5-hr. magnetic resonance imaging session.

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 (Estimated)

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.
30

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.
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
        • Recruiting
        • Center for Studies of Addiction
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Corinde Wiers, Ph.D
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Ravi Nanga, Ph.D.
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Henry Kranzler, MD

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Able to communicate English and provide written informed consent
  2. Meets current DSM-5 criteria for moderate or severe AUD and seeking treatment for AUD
  3. Minimum 3-year history of heavy drinking (self-report).
  4. Presence of alcohol withdrawal (DSM-5)

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Current DSM-5 diagnosis of a major psychiatric disorder (other than alcohol and nicotine use disorders) that would interfere with study procedures.
  2. Major medical problems that could impact brain function or the use of a Ketone supplement (e.g., epilepsy or diabetes) as determined by history and physical exam.
  3. Clinically significant laboratory findings that could affect brain function (e.g., HIV+)
  4. Head trauma with loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes,
  5. Pregnant or breast-feeding
  6. BMI greater than 35
  7. Self-reported claustrophobia
  8. Contraindications to MRI (e.g., metal in the body that cannot be removed).
  9. Current, gastrointestinal (GI), liver or other clinically significant physical disease that may interfere with the intake of the Ketone Supplement based on medical history, and evaluation of the Study Physician.
  10. Current significant withdrawal from other substances, including benzodiazepines, opioids that require medication management for withdrawal and may interfere with study results/withdrawal management plan.
  11. Judged by the principal investigator, Study Physician, or their designee to be an unsuitable candidate for the study.

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

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.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo Beverage
Placebo beverage, visually matched, three times a day before meals, by mouth for 4 days plus 1 dose on day 5 for magnetic resonance imaging session visit.
Diagnostic test: magnetic resonance imaging session
1.5 hour magnetic resonance imaging session
Other Names:
  • MRI
Dietary supplement: Placebo beverage
Placebo beverage, visually matched, three times a day before meals, by mouth for 4 days plus 1 dose on day 5 for magnetic resonance imaging session visit.
Other Names:
  • Placebo
Experimental: Ketone Supplement
Ketone supplement "D-beta-hydroxybutryric acid and R-1,3 butanediol" (Kenetik: Ketone Drink, VitaNav Inc., Washington D.C.) 12g of ketones, three times a day before meals, by mouth for 4 days plus 1 dose on day 5 for magnetic resonance imaging session visit.
Dietary supplement: ketone supplement "D-beta-hydroxybutryric acid and R-1,3 butanediol" 12g of ketones,
ketone supplement
Other Names:
  • Kenetik: Ketone Drink, VitaNav Inc., Washington D.C.
Diagnostic test: magnetic resonance imaging session
1.5 hour magnetic resonance imaging session
Other Names:
  • MRI

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
Group changes in the total milligrams of benzodiazepines given to subjects during alcohol withdrawal management after receiving either ketone supplement or placebo beverage after 4 days of study intervention.
Time Frame: 4 days
Patients in alcohol withdrawal management receive benzodiazepines measured in milligrams to treat their alcohol withdrawal symptoms. The primary outcome of this study is to compare the group differences in the amounts of benzodiazepines given to subjects after receiving either a ketone supplement or placebo beverage after 4 days, while undergoing in-patient acute withdrawal management.
4 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
To measure the group differences of BHB levels in millimoles, in subjects receiving ketone supplement, Kenetik three times daily, versus a placebo beverage after 4 days of study intervention.
Time Frame: 4 days
Subjects will undergo a high-field strength, 7 Tesla 1H-MRS scan to measure brain BHB levels in millimoles after the 4 days of the study intervention.
4 days
To measure the group differences of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid levels in millimoles in subjects receiving a ketone supplement, Kenetik three times daily, versus a placebo beverage after 4 days of study intervention.
Time Frame: 4 days
Subjects will undergo a high-field strength, 7 Tesla 1H-MRS scan to measure brain Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid levels in millimoles after the 4 days of the study intervention.
4 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.
University of Pennsylvania

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.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

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: Corinde Wiers, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

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.
August 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
December 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
December 1, 2027

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).
July 29, 2024

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.
August 14, 2024

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.
August 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

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.
September 15, 2025

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.
September 8, 2025

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.
September 1, 2025

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.
  • 856689
  • 5R21AA031337 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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