Mechanism of Ketogenic Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia

Launched by WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · Mar 18, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a very-low carbohydrate ketogenic diet can lead to high cholesterol levels in some people, especially those who are of normal weight. Researchers want to understand why this happens by enrolling normal-weight adults who might experience an increase in cholesterol while following this diet. They will identify these individuals, called "responders," and measure how their bodies produce and remove certain cholesterol-carrying particles, known as lipoproteins. The goal is to clarify the reasons behind the rise in cholesterol levels for those who are more susceptible.

To participate in this trial, you need to be between 18 and 40 years old, have a healthy body weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25), and have specific cholesterol levels that are not too high at the start. If you are currently on certain medications, have a family history of high cholesterol, or have other health issues like diabetes or high blood pressure, you may not be eligible to join. Participants can expect to follow the ketogenic diet as part of the study and will be closely monitored for changes in their cholesterol levels. This research could help provide important insights into how diets affect cholesterol levels and overall heart health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. age ≥ 18 and \< 40 years
• • 2. BMI ≥ 18.5 and \< 25.0 kg/m2
• • 3. baseline serum LDL-c \< 150 mg/dL (\< 3.9 mmol/L)
• • 4. baseline serum TG \< 100 mg/dL (\< 1.1 mmol/L)
• • 5. HbA1c ≤ 5.6%.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. personal or family history of familial hypercholesterolemia
• • 2. current use of lipid-lowering drugs
• • 3. currently on a ketogenic diet and unwilling to change diet
• • 4. current tobacco use
• • 5. hypertension
• • 6. prediabetes or diabetes
• • 7. elevated Lp(a) \> 6.5% of ApoB-containing lipoproteins at baseline
• • 8. oral contraceptive use
• • 9. contraindication to heparin
• • 10. known atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
• • 11. unwilling to abstain from alcohol