Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Ketogenic Diet for Depression
Sponsor: University Psychiatric Clinics Basel
Summary
Globally, it's estimated that around 300 million people are affected by depressive illness, and even with access to modern mental health care, long-term recovery is uncommon. Recently, there has been increasing interest in a promising intervention: the ketogenic diet. This diet restricts carbohydrate intake, promoting the breakdown of fats into circulating ketone bodies, which can act as an additional energy source for the brain, potentially reducing its reliance on glucose. While various sources of evidence suggest the potential benefits of the ketogenic diet for individuals with depression, robust clinical studies on its efficacy in depressed patients are lacking. Our goal is to conduct an eight-week, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial to investigate the therapeutic effects of a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic diet compared to an active comparator diet in individuals with depression.
Official title: KETO-MOOD: Ketogenic Diet for Microbiome Optimization and Overcoming Depression
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 70 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
120
Start Date
2024-01-01
Completion Date
2027-07-01
Last Updated
2023-10-30
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet intervention, administered as a Modified Atkins Diet, involves a significantly reduced daily carbohydrate intake, typically less than 20 grams of net carbs. This approach primarily relies on higher fat consumption to induce ketosis, a metabolic state characterized by elevated ketone body production, serving as an alternative brain fuel source.