Ketogenic Diet for Cardiovascular Health
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial requires that participants do not take anti-hypertensive, lipid-lowering, or glucose-lowering drugs. If you take supplements that affect the study's outcomes, you must be willing to stop them during the study period.
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Ketogenic Diet for cardiovascular health?
Research shows that low-carbohydrate diets, like the ketogenic diet, can lead to weight loss and improve some heart health markers, such as cholesterol and blood pressure, more effectively than low-fat diets. However, there are concerns about potential increases in cholesterol levels, so monitoring is important.12345
Is the ketogenic diet safe for cardiovascular health?
How does the ketogenic diet treatment for cardiovascular health differ from other treatments?
The ketogenic diet is unique because it focuses on high fat and low carbohydrate intake, which can improve heart health by enhancing cardiac energy use and reducing oxygen needs. Unlike traditional low-fat diets, it may also lead to better weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction, although it can raise cholesterol levels and requires careful adherence.3891011
What is the purpose of this trial?
The goal of this clinical trial is to examine the effect of the ketogenic diet over four weeks on blood lipid levels and risk factors for heart disease in adults with a healthy BMI compared to adults with a body mass index (BMI) in the range for obesity. The main questions it aims to answer are:* Does the ketogenic diet cause larger increases in "bad cholesterol" (low density lipoprotein-cholesterol) in adults with a healthy BMI compared to adults with BMI in the range for obesity?* Does the ketogenic diet cause larger decreases in vascular health in adults with a healthy BMI compared to adults with BMI in the range for obesity?Participants will:* Consume all of the study food provided and avoid intake of non-study foods during the 28-day diet period* Visit the metabolic kitchen daily (Monday-Friday) to pick up meals* Attend 5 fasting visits at the Clinical Research Center for testing
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for healthy adults who are either at a normal weight or have obesity, as determined by their BMI. They must be willing to follow a strict ketogenic diet provided by the study for four weeks and can commit to daily visits on weekdays to pick up meals and attend five fasting tests.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants follow a ketogenic diet for 28 days, with daily meal pickups and fasting visits for testing
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Ketogenic Diet
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Penn State University
Lead Sponsor