Effect of a Low-Calorie MCT-Rich Traditional Minangkabau Diet on Obese Individuals

April 8, 2026 updated by: Nola Vita Sari, Andalas University

The Effect of a Low-Calorie Diet Rich in Medium-Chain Triglycerides Based on Traditional Minangkabau Foods on Lipid Profile, Leptin Levels, and DNA Methylation of the Leptin Gene Promoter in Individuals With Obesity

This study aims to investigate the effect of a low-calorie diet rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) based on traditional Minangkabau foods on metabolic biomarkers in individuals with obesity. The traditional Minangkabau foods used in this study consist primarily of coconut milk-based dishes, which contain coconut oil as a natural source of MCTs. The metabolic biomarkers assessed include body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body fat percentage, fasting blood glucose levels, lipid profile, leptin concentrations, and DNA methylation of the leptin gene promoter. Based on these metabolic biomarker measurements, participants will be classified into metabolic obesity phenotypes, namely metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUHO). The researchers hypothesize that the provision of a low-calorie, MCT-rich diet based on traditional Minangkabau foods will have a significant effect on metabolic biomarkers and metabolic status in individuals with obesity.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study was conducted within the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Public Health at Andalas University, Padang, and received ethical approval from the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Andalas University. The study population consisted of educational staff with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m². Study participants were educational staff who agreed to participate and provided written informed consent. A total of 40 participants were included in the study, comprising 20 participants in the intervention group and 20 participants in the control group.

The study was conducted over a period of 12 weeks (90 days). One week prior to the intervention, dietary intake was assessed using the 24-hour food recall method. Anthropometric measurements were performed using calibrated instruments by trained personnel.

Participants in both the intervention and control groups underwent a one-week pre-intervention period (baseline period, from day -6 to day 0), during which they were instructed not to consume any supplements. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, body fat percentage, fasting blood glucose levels, lipid profile, leptin concentrations, and DNA methylation of the leptin gene promoter were assessed on day 0 and day 90.

Dietary intake data obtained from the 24-hour food recall interviews were analyzed using the NutriSurvey 2005 software. The dietary intervention was designed to provide an energy deficit of 500-600 kcal compared with participants' habitual daily intake. The diet was based on traditional Minangkabau foods.

Participants in the intervention group were provided with daily menu plans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The dietary intervention was prepared independently by participants in accordance with the dietary guidelines and menus provided. In contrast, the control group followed a standard nutritionally balanced diet according to individual requirements. Participants were instructed to record their daily food intake in a food diary, which was collected and evaluated twice weekly (on weekdays and weekends). In addition, the research team monitored and motivated all participants through WhatsApp groups. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Phase

  • 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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Administrative staff of the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Public Health, Andalas University, Padang, with obesity defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m².
  • Willing to participate in the study by providing written informed consent.
  • Participants with obesity classified as Metabolically Unhealthy Obese (MUHO)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Did not come and could not be found at the time of research data collection
  • Unable to follow the dietary arrangements as set
  • Taking anti-diabetic or anti-lipid drugs
  • Use of contraceptives or hormonal drugs
  • In the treatment of radiotherapy or chemotherapyi
  • Participants with obesity classified as Metabolically Healthy Obese (MHO)

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 Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention group (low-calorie diet rich in medium-chain triglycerides [MCTs] based on traditiona
Low-Calorie Diet Rich in Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) Based on Traditional Minangkabau Foods Participants in the intervention group received a nutritionally balanced low-calorie diet rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) derived from traditional Minangkabau foods. The dietary intervention was designed to provide an energy deficit of 500-600 kcal compared with participants' habitual daily intake. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention period.
Other: Low-Calorie Diet Rich in Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) Based on Traditional Minangkabau Foods
Participants in the intervention group received a nutritionally balanced low-calorie diet rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) derived from traditional Minangkabau foods. The dietary intervention was designed to provide an energy deficit of 500-600 kcal compared with participants' habitual daily intake. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention period.
No Intervention: Control group (standard nutritionally balanced diet)
Standard Nutritionally Balanced Diet Participants in the control group received a standard nutritionally balanced diet without specific emphasis on MCT content. This diet was not designed to induce an energy deficit and was instead tailored to participants' usual daily dietary habits and energy requirements. Assessments were conducted before and after the study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from baseline in body mass index (BMI).
Time Frame: After 12 weeks
BMI is calculated as body weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (kg/m²).
After 12 weeks
Change from baseline in waist circumference.
Time Frame: After 12 weeks
Waist circumference is measured around the abdomen at the level of the umbilicus.
After 12 weeks
Change from baseline in body fat percentage
Time Frame: After 12 weeks
Body fat percentage is assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
After 12 weeks
Change from baseline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Time Frame: After 12 weeks
Blood pressure is measured using a digital tensimeter.
After 12 weeks
Change from baseline in fasting blood glucose levels.
Time Frame: After 12 weeks
Fasting blood glucose levels are measured using a clinical chemistry analyzer.
After 12 weeks
Change from baseline in lipid profile.
Time Frame: After 12 weeks
The lipid profile includes total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Measurements are performed using a clinical chemistry analyzer (photometer).
After 12 weeks
Change from baseline in serum leptin.
Time Frame: After 12 weeks
Serum leptin concentrations are measured using appropriate laboratory methods (ELISA).
After 12 weeks
Change from baseline in DNA methylation of the leptin gene promoter.
Time Frame: After 12 weeks
DNA methylation status of the leptin gene promoter is assessed using MSP (Methylation-Specific PCR).
After 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in metabolic status.
Time Frame: After 12 weeks

Metabolic status is classified into Metabolically Healthy Obesity (MHO) and Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity (MUHO) based on the number of metabolic abnormalities present.

  • MHO is defined as the presence of 0-1 metabolic abnormality.
  • MUHO is defined as the presence of ≥2 metabolic abnormalities. These metabolic abnormalities included elevated fasting blood glucose levels, increased blood pressure, enlarged waist circumference, elevated triglyceride levels, and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.
After 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Andalas University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Nur Indrawaty Lipoeto, Professor, Universitas Andalas

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

  • Lipoeto, N.I., Elliyanti, A. and Febri, D.S. (2025) 'The Effect of A Low-Calorie Balanced Nutrition Diet Based on Minang Cuisine in Obese Patients', 10(February), pp. 26-34.
  • Lipoeto, N.I., Agus, Z., Oenzil, F., Wahlqvist, M.L. and Wattanapenpaiboon, N. (2004) 'Dietary intake and the risk of coronary heart disease among the coconut-consuming Minangkabau in West Sumatra, Indonesia', Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 13(4), pp. 377-384.

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 (Estimated)

April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

February 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 8, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • PMDSU2026

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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