NCT02944253

Brief Summary

Two dietary approaches, very low energy diets (VLEDs) and ketogenic low carbohydrate diets (KLCDs), have the ability to suppress appetite. The suppression of appetite typically observed during these diets is believed (but not clinically proven) to be due to ketosis, a condition where circulating concentrations of ketone bodies are increased due to a higher production of ketones in the liver. Little is known about the potential mechanisms through which ketosis may lead to appetite suppression in VLEDs and KLCDs. A 'ketogenic diet' typically contains less than 50 grams carbohydrate per day, yet ketosis has been seen in subjects who consume diets with a carbohydrates ranging between 59-192 grams per day. Although an association between ketosis and appetite suppression has been established, the minimum level of ketosis and maximum carbohydrate intake that is still associated with appetite suppression remains unknown and should be explored. The ability to increase carbohydrate intake while maintaining a suppressed appetite will allow dieters to consume more carbohydrate-rich food that is beneficial for health without feeling more hungry. The study, 'can Appetite Suppression be achieved using KEtogenic Diets with more carbohydrates?' (ASKED) aimed to:

  • to identify the maximum carbohydrate intake that is still associated with appetite suppression in a low energy diet and to determine the impact of a higher carbohydrate intake on appetite suppression, ketosis, body composition, and resting metabolic rate. A
  • to evaluate the impact of weight loss while in and out of ketosis on markers of appetite (appetite related hormones and appetite sensations measured using visual analogue scales).

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
100

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable obesity

Timeline
Completed

Started May 2017

Typical duration for not_applicable obesity

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 21, 2016

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 25, 2016

Completed
6 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

May 1, 2017

Completed
2.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2019

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2019

Completed
Last Updated

October 4, 2023

Status Verified

October 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

2.7 years

First QC Date

October 21, 2016

Last Update Submit

October 2, 2023

Conditions

Keywords

Diet, ReducingHungerAppetite RegulationKetogenic DietCaloric RestrictionWeight LossKetosis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

  • Suppression of appetite sensations measured using online visual analogue scales

    Assessed by an online version of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), a validated scale used to measure appetite sensations in response to questions posed regarding feelings of hunger, fullness, desire to eat, prospective consumption. Study participants are asked questions such as 'How hungry do you feel right now?' and are asked to provide a response by marking across a 100 millimeter long line with sentences anchored at each end such as "I have never been more hungry/ or I am not hungry at all" corresponding to their feeling. VAS measurements are done in fasting, immediately after a meal and every 30 minutes for 2.5 hours. Measurements are quantified by measuring the distance from the left end of the line to the mark indicated by the participant.

    12 weeks (at start of study (baseline), at week 9 (after diet induced weight loss period), and week 13 (after weight stabilization period)

  • Suppression of appetite indicated by appetite-related hormones Active Ghrelin, Total Glucagon Like Peptide-1, Total Peptide YY and Insulin

    Measurement of plasma samples of appetite related hormones: Active ghrelin (AG), Total Glucagon Like Peptide-1 (Total GLP-1), Total Peptide YY (Total PYY) and Insulin measured in fasting, immediately after a meal and every 30 minutes for a period of 2.5 hours. Blood samples are first collected in Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes (72 milliliters in total) and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 18 degrees celsius with 3200 revolutions per minute (RPM). Plasma samples are then stored in -80 degree celsius freezer until analysis using a Metabolic Hormone Magnetic Bead Panel (Lincoplex Kit, Merck Millipore, USA). Results of plasma samples of these hormones will be presented in picograms (pg) per milliliter (ml).

    12 weeks (at start of study (baseline), at week 9 (after diet induced weight loss period), and week 13 (after weight stabilization period)

  • Suppression of appetite indicated by appetite-related hormone Cholecystokinin (CCK)

    Measurement of plasma samples of appetite related hormone Cholecystokinin (CCK) measured in fasting, immediately after a meal and every 30 minutes for a period of 2.5 hours. Blood samples are first collected in Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes (72 milliliters in total inclusive of blood collected for analysis of hormones listed above) and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 18 degrees celsius with 3200 revolutions per minute (RPM). Plasma samples are then stored in -80 degree celsius freezer until they are sent to the University of Copenhagen to be analyzed by the research group of Professor Jens F Rehfeld using his 'In-house Radioimmunoassay method'. The results of plasma CCK will be presented in picomoles (pmol) per liter (l).

    12 weeks (at start of study (baseline), at week 9 (after diet induced weight loss period), and week 13 (after weight stabilization period)

  • Ketosis

    Measured with beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB), a ketone body and indicator of ketosis in plasma form. Fasting blood samples are first collected in Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes (inclusive of the 72 milliliters of blood collected for analysis of appetite hormones listed above) and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 18 degrees celsius with 3200 revolutions per minute (RPM). Plasma samples are then stored in -80 degree celsius freezer until analysis using a Ketone Body Assay (MAK-134, Merck Millipore, USA). The results of plasma BHB will be presented in millimoles (mmol) per liter (l).

    12 weeks (at start of study (baseline), at week 9 (after diet induced weight loss period), and week 13 (after weight stabilization period

Secondary Outcomes (9)

  • Body composition (air displacement plethysmography)

    12 weeks (at start of study (baseline), at week 9 (after diet induced weight loss period), and week 13 (after weight stabilization period)

  • Percent fat/fat-free mass (air displacement plethysmography)

    12 weeks (at start of study (baseline), at week 9 (after diet induced weight loss period), and week 13 (after weight stabilization period)

  • Body composition (bioelectrical impedance)

    12 weeks (at start of study (baseline), at week 9 (after diet induced weight loss period), and week 13 (after weight stabilization period)

  • Percent fat/fat-free mass (bioelectrical impedance analysis)

    12 weeks (at start of study (baseline), at week 9 (after diet induced weight loss period), and week 13 (after weight stabilization period)

  • Intracellular and extracellular water measured using Bioelectrical impedance analysis

    12 weeks (at start of study (baseline), at week 9 (after diet induced weight loss period), and week 13 (after weight stabilization period)

  • +4 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

Low energy diet 70 gram carbohydrates

EXPERIMENTAL

isocaloric 4128 kilojoules/day (1000 kilocalories/day) for men and women, low energy diet containing 70 gram carbohydrates for 8 weeks.

Other: Low energy diet 70 gram carbohydrates

Low energy diet 100 gram carbohydrates

EXPERIMENTAL

isocaloric (4128 kilojoules/day (1000 kilocalories/day) for men and women, low energy diet containing 100 gram carbohydrates for 8 weeks.

Other: Low energy diet 100 gram carbohydrates

Low energy diet 130 gram carbohydrates

EXPERIMENTAL

isocaloric 4128 kilojoules/day (1000 kilocalories/day) for men and women, low energy diet containing 130 gram carbohydrates for 8 weeks.

Other: Low energy diet 130 gram carbohydrates

Interventions

isocaloric 4128 kilojoules/day (1000 kilocalories/day) for men and women, low energy diet containing 70 gram carbohydrates

Low energy diet 70 gram carbohydrates

isocaloric 4128 kilojoules/day (1000 kilocalories/day) for men and women

Low energy diet 100 gram carbohydrates

isocaloric 4128 kilojoules/day (1000 kilocalories/day) for men and women, low energy diet containing 130 gram carbohydrates

Low energy diet 130 gram carbohydrates

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • class I or II obesity (BMI 30-45 kg/m2)
  • weight stable (\<2 kg variation in weight within the last 3 months)
  • not currently dieting to lose weight
  • women who are either post-menopausal, taking oral contraceptives or with a normal cycle (28 ± 2 days)

You may not qualify if:

  • pregnant
  • breast-feeding
  • drug or alcohol abuse within the last two years
  • currently taking medication known to affect appetite or induce weight loss
  • enrolled in another obesity treatment program
  • history of psychological disorders
  • having had bariatric surgery
  • metabolic diseases (such as hypo/hyperthyroidism and diabetes type 1 or 2)
  • eating disorders
  • lactose intolerance
  • gastrointestinal (particularly cholelithiasis), kidney, liver, lung, cardiovascular disease
  • malignancies

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

St Olavs Hospital

Trondheim, Norway

Location

Related Publications (6)

  • Deemer SE, Plaisance EP, Martins C. Impact of ketosis on appetite regulation-a review. Nutr Res. 2020 May;77:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2020.02.010. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

    PMID: 32193016BACKGROUND
  • Martins C, Roekenes J, Salamati S, Gower BA, Hunter GR. Metabolic adaptation is an illusion, only present when participants are in negative energy balance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 Nov 11;112(5):1212-1218. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa220.

  • Martins C, Roekenes J, Gower BA, Hunter GR. Metabolic adaptation is associated with less weight and fat mass loss in response to low-energy diets. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2021 Jun 11;18(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s12986-021-00587-8.

  • Martins C, Nymo S, Aukan MI, Roekenes JA, Coutinho SR, Hunter GR, Gower BA. Association between ss-Hydroxybutyrate Plasma Concentrations after Hypocaloric Ketogenic Diets and Changes in Body Composition. J Nutr. 2023 Jul;153(7):1944-1949. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.05.010. Epub 2023 May 12.

  • Martins C, Roekenes J, Salamati S, Gower BA, Hunter GR. Reply to E Ravussin and L Redman. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 Dec 10;112(6):1655-1656. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa309. No abstract available.

  • Martins C, Roekenes J, Hunter GR, Gower BA. Association between ketosis and metabolic adaptation at the level of resting metabolic rate. Clin Nutr. 2021 Aug;40(8):4824-4829. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.06.029. Epub 2021 Jul 6.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

ObesityWeight LossKetosis

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

OverweightOvernutritionNutrition DisordersNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesBody WeightSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsBody Weight ChangesAcidosisAcid-Base ImbalanceMetabolic Diseases

Study Officials

  • Magne Børset, phd prof

    Norwegian University of Science and Technology

    STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 21, 2016

First Posted

October 25, 2016

Study Start

May 1, 2017

Primary Completion

December 31, 2019

Study Completion

December 31, 2019

Last Updated

October 4, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-10

Locations