NCT05507008

Ketone Supplementation in Eating Disorders

Starving for Energy - A Pilot Study to Test Ketone Derived Energy in Eating Disorders

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of California, San Diego · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study will investigate the effects of ketone supplementation on eating behavior including drive to binge eat or restrict, mood and anxiety in individuals with anorexia or bulimia nervosa. In addition, the investigators will contrast the effects of active ketone supplementation versus placebo on electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement. All subjects enrolled in the study will undergo EEG on two consecutive days at the beginning of the study, after active ketone supplementation or placebo drink, matched in taste to the ketone drink. Days will be randomized. Thereafter, all subjects will take the ketone supplementation drink for two weeks, twice daily.

Detailed description

The goals of the study are: 1\) to test the effect of BHB as a nutritional supplement for AN and BN and 2) to test the ingestion of BHB on brain function. Subjects will complete a battery of self-assessments and a diagnostic assessment in order to determine eligibility and for characterization of behavior to be used in later analyses. After eligibility is confirmed, subjects will complete 2 EEG scans on separate days after ingestion of Ketone supplement drink or placebo and will complete a taste reward task during the EEG scan. Subjects will then complete 2 weeks of daily ketone supplementation and self-assessments.

Conditions

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Atypical Anorexia Nervosa
• Atypical Bulimia Nervosa

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Kenetik Ketone Drink	BHB supplementation

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-10-13
• Primary completion: 2026-12-01
• Completion: 2026-12-30
• First posted: 2022-08-18
• Last updated: 2025-09-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States