Study of How a Ketogenic Diet Affects Cholesterol in Normal-Weight Adults Aged 18 to 39

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating why very-low carbohydrate ketogenic diets can cause a significant rise in blood cholesterol levels in some normal-weight adults. This study focuses on identifying individuals who develop high cholesterol when following a ketogenic diet and understanding the underlying mechanism. The goal is to clarify how this diet affects cholesterol-carrying particles, known as lipoproteins, in susceptible people. The study involves a two-stage screening process to find eligible normal-weight adults with low cardiovascular risk and identify responders who show increased LDL cholesterol after a 3-week ketogenic diet. Qualified responders will then participate in a randomized crossover trial comparing two 4-week diet interventions a ketogenic diet and a control diet. Each diet phase is separated by a 4-week washout period, and all food is provided as packed-out meals. Participants are assigned to one of two groups, starting with either the ketogenic or control diet. Participants will undergo detailed assessments including isotope tracer studies to measure production and removal rates of various lipoproteins and cholesterol kinetics immediately after each diet period. Additional evaluations include blood lipoprotein profiles, fat mass, insulin sensitivity, thyroid function, and cholesterol absorption markers. The study aims to understand how ketogenic diets impact cholesterol metabolism, with all procedures conducted under careful monitoring over several months.

Mechanism of Ketogenic Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia