Low-carbohydrate Diet and Low-Density Lipoprotein - Cholesterol (LDL-c) Interindividual Variability
Recruiting now · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Healthy
In brief
Ketogenic diets are very low-carbohydrate diets that increase hepatic production of ketone bodies, which have several effects as substrates and signals. Ketogenic diets are used to manage some conditions (e.g., drug-resistant epilepsy), and their potential for managing many other conditions (e.g., cancer) is being actively explored. Indeed, the British Dietetic Association acknowledge the potential for ketogenic diets to improve glycaemic control to a greater extent than some other diets in people with type 2 diabetes. A lower fasting glucose is also relevant to future mortality in people without diabetes. Ketogenic diets are popular in the general population, with up to 15% of the UK following a low-carbohydrate diet. There is, therefore, great interest in ketogenic diets amongst people with and without health conditions. However, although the diet shows promising results in improving blood sugar levels, it has also shown to increase low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) in some individuals, which has been linked to increased cardiovascular health risks. The aim of this project is to find the potential for personalised use of (or guidance to avoid) ketogenic diets for cardiovascular disease risk. To do that the investigators will ask participants to replicate 24 hours of a ketogenic diet and a control diet thrice each. This will allow the investigators to find variability between responses and have a better idea of individuals who could benefit (or not) from following the ketogenic diet.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07675603
- Run by
- University of Bath
- People needed
- 20
- Starts
- 2026-02-05
- Expected to finish
- 2027-03-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-06-30
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Age: >18 years
- Body mass index: 18.5-35 kg·m-2
- Low-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol <4.9 mmol/L
- Non-fasting triglycerides <2.3 mmol/L
You may not qualify if…
- weight instability (>5% change in body mass within last 3 months)
- smoker
- diagnosis of hypercholesterolaemia or any other lipid-related disease
- diagnosis of diabetes
- diagnosis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
- elevated fasting glucose (>5.4 mmol/L)
- dietary intolerances or allergies or to other study procedures
- diagnosis of gastrointestinal disorders
- any other condition/medication that could introduce bias to the study
- already following a ketogenic diet
- not willing to follow a ketogenic diet
- unable to understand English language
Where it is running
- University of Bath — Bath, Bath and North East Somerset, United Kingdom (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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