Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on Acute Stroke
- Conditions
- Acute Stroke
- Interventions
- Dietary Supplement: Ketogenic meals
- Registration Number
- NCT01997749
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Copenhagen
- Brief Summary
The purpose of this controlled, randomized intervention is to investigate whether a fat-based (ketogenic) diet given for a week has a positive effect on blood sugar, mortality and function in patients hospitalized with acute stroke compared to the effect of a usual diet.
The study hypothesis is that a ketogenic diet and reduced availability of glucose to the brain cells will reduce the volume of neuronal damage in the brain and improve function.
The intervention will take place at the neurological units of Glostrup and Bispebjerg Hospital in Denmark.
- Detailed Description
A ketogenic diet can induce ketosis after a period of 2-3 days and offer the brain an alternative energy substrate to glucose in the form of ketone bodies. Feeding the brain ketone bodies can potentially benefit a stroke patient's brain in several ways:
Stroke is characterized by impaired blood and oxygen supply to brain cells. This can cause glucose to convert to lactate which is toxic for the brain. Decreasing glucose availability to brain cells may thus potentially decrease the area of damage in the ischemic penumbra (perifephery of the stroke). Compared with sugar, burning ketone bodies requires less oxygen to produce the same amount of energy, suggesting that brain cells could have a potential greater chance of surviving during circumstances of reduced oxygen supply. By decreasing mitochondria activity, ROS synthesis is also decreased, which can help decrease the necrotic area around the ischemic penumbra. Furthermore, the ketogenic diet does not induce an increase in blood sugar which could be an advantage since many stroke patients are admitted with hyperglycemia associated with a worse outcome.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 64
- Patients with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.
- NIHSS score of at least 5.
- Both primary and recurrent cases.
- Inclusion as early as possible, but no later than 72 hours from symptom onset.
- Patients with expected hospitalization for a minimum of seven days.
- Adult patients with cognitive ability to give informed consent.
- Patients with writing and orally accepted participation.
- Patients with SAH and traumatic hematoma.
- Patients with pancreatic insufficiency (steatorrhea).
- Patients unable to give informed consent.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Ketogenic diet Ketogenic meals Acute stroke patients will receive a ketogenic diet (Ketocal 4:1 and ketogenic meals) for the first week after inclusion
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change from baseline p-C-peptide at 7 days Baseline and 7 days Change from baseline NIHSS (national institute of health stroke scale) at 90 days Baseline and 90 days NIHSS is a common stroke scale used to objectively quantify the impairment caused by a stroke
Change from baseline fasting blood sugar at 7 days Baseline and 7 days
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change from baseline p-CRP at 7 days Baseline and 7 days Change from baseline p-potassium at 7 days Baseline and 7 days Change from baseline p-alkaline phosphatase at 7 days baseline and 7 days Change from baseline p-bilirubine at 7 days baseline and 7 days Change from baseline p-beta-hydroxy butyrate at 7 days Baseline and 7 days Change from baseline p-ALAT at 7 days Baseline and 7 days Change from baseline INR at 7 days baseline and 7 days Change from baseline p-triglyceride (fasting) at 7 days Baseline and 7 days Change from baseline p-phosphate at 7 days Baseline and 7 days Change from baseline p-LDL at 7 days Baseline and 7 days Number of patients who died (mortality) up to 3 months Number of patients with pneunomia Up to one week Change from baseline urine-ketones at 7 days Baseline and 7 days Number of patients with gastrointestinal complications Up to one week Gastrointestinal complications monitored daily are: Nausea, Vomiting, Constipation, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Glostrup Hospital
🇩🇰Glostrup, Copenhagen, Denmark