A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a Low Carbohydrate High Fat Diet on Tremor Severity and Mental Health Outcomes in Patients with Essential Tremor

This pilot study evaluates the effectiveness of a Low Carbohydrate High Fat LCHF diet also known as the ketogenic diet on tremor severity anxiety depression and quality of life in patients with Essential Tremor ET

Essential Tremor is a common neurological disorder that causes involuntary shaking especially in older adults Current treatments including medications and surgery have several limitations This has led to growing interest in noninvasive alternatives

The LCHF diet is known for its neuroprotective and antiinflammatory effects in neurological conditions such as epilepsy and Parkinson disease It is believed to influence neurotransmitters like GABA which play a role in the development of Essential Tremor

This study is conducted at GIPMER New Delhi and involves 50 adult ET patients Participants are randomly assigned to either a structured LCHF diet or standard care for a period of six weeks Assessments are conducted at the beginning and end of the study using validated tools Fahn Tolosa Marin Scale for tremor Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale HADS and Quality of Life in Essential Tremor Questionnaire QUEST

Weekly followups are included to monitor diet adherence safety and side effects The study is ethically sound and low risk with minor side effects like nausea and fatigue being anticipated The design is prospective randomized and uses appropriate statistical methods for analysis

If effective the findings could support larger trials and promote dietary strategies as a safe and accessible treatment for patients with Essential Tremor