Randomized Trial of Ketogenic and Carnivore Diets for Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis to Improve Quality of Life and Symptoms

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether two specific diets the ketogenic diet and the carnivore lion diet can improve quality of life, reduce symptoms, and affect disease activity in adults with inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease or rheumatoid arthritis. This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to assess how these dietary approaches influence health and inflammation over time in these patients. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups the ketogenic diet group, the carnivore lion diet group, or a wait-list control group. Those in the dietary groups will receive virtual guidance, educational materials, structured meal plans, and ongoing support from medical and nutrition providers through telehealth sessions over a 24-week period divided into two 12-week phases. The wait-list group will continue their usual diet for 12 weeks and then be randomized to one of the dietary interventions. Participants may also choose to switch diets after the first 12 weeks with clinical team approval. Throughout the study, participants will complete questionnaires about quality of life, symptoms, and diet adherence. They will also perform at-home blood ketone and glucose monitoring, and undergo laboratory tests to evaluate nutritional status, cardiometabolic health, immune activity, and inflammation. Assessments occur at baseline, midpoint 12 weeks, and study completion 24 weeks. Total participation lasts about 27 weeks, including a 3-week run-in period before starting the diet interventions.

Ketogenic and Carnivore (Lion) Diets for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis