A ketogenic diet (KD) is high in fat and low in carbohydrates and induces ketosis. KD is an approved non-pharmacological therapy for drug-resistant child epilepsy. Research has shown that a KD can reduce the behavioral measures of alcohol withdrawal symptomatology in rats. Ketosis is also possible to achieve without adherence to a KD, by ingestion of a ketogenic dietary supplement. In this study, we want to investigate if the attenuating effect of the KD observed in rodents, is also applicable in humans, i.e. whether a ketogenic dietary supplement, here a ketone monoester, would be effective in suppressing alcohol withdrawal symptoms in humans. Objective: To test the effect of a ketogenic dietary supplement on the need for benzodiazepines in managing alcohol withdrawal syndrome in humans. Eligibility: Adults 18-70 years who are alcohol dependent and are seeking treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome in an out-patient setting. Design: Double blinded, randomized clinical trial. The participants will be randomized to receive either the ketone ester beverage, or a placebo beverage. The study will be conducted over three days (72 hours), with follow-up at 1 month and 1 year after completion. A sub-set of patients will undergo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) following withdrawal treatment, and again after 1 month.
Neuroimaging studies have shown that acute alcohol administration decreases glucose metabolism in the human brain, which was initially thought to reflect decreased brain function. However, subsequent studies showed that even low doses of alcohol, with minimal behavioral effects, also decreased baseline brain glucose metabolism and further. This led to the hypothesis that the reduction in brain glucose metabolism during alcohol intoxication reflected the brain's utilization of an alternate energy substrate, e.g. the alcohol metabolite acetate. Acetate is not a ketone body, but biochemically similar to the ketone bodies, which include acetoacetate, BHB and acetone. Ketone bodies are similarly taken up by the Monocarboxylate Transporters in neurons, and other brain tissue. A pre-clinical trial has demonstrated that the implementation of a KD for 10 days significantly reduced the behavioral measures of alcohol withdrawal symptomatology in rats. In this study, we want to investigate if the attenuating effect of the KD observed in rodents, is also applicable in humans, i.e. whether a ketogenic dietary supplement, here a ketone monoester, would be effective in suppressing alcohol withdrawal symptoms in humans. Objectives: We will investigate the effect of a five times daily oral administration of a ketone dietary supplement beverage vs. placebo on the need for benzodiazepines in alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The KME beverage is a supplement to standardized out-patient alcohol withdrawal treatment. Study population: 36 participants aged 18-70 with a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder according to the DSM-V, ICD-10, and a previous history of treatment-requiring alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Design: Clinical double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, three-day clinical trial, with an MRS (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) sub-study. The participants will be randomized to receive either the ketone ester beverage, or a placebo beverage 5 times daily. Participants will be asked to register benzodiazepine use in a medication-diary during the study. Participants will be asked to self-monitor blood-glucose and ketone levels by use of fingerstick measurements. During the study patients will be evaluated for withdrawal severity, and complete questionnaires on alcohol craving, sleep, anxiety and mood.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
36
The ketone mono ester will be ingested 5 times daily for 3 days (72 hours). Please see above for details.
The placebo will be ingested 5 times daily for 3 days (72 hours). Please see above for details.
Novavi Lyngby
Lyngby, Danmark (DK), Denmark
RECRUITINGPsychiatric Center Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen, Denmark
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGBenzodiazepine use
Quantity of benzodiazepine needed to manage alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Time frame: 2 years
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy sub-study
For the MRS sub-study brain BHB, GABA and Glutamate will be measured with 1H MRS following KME ingestion. Results will be compared with healthy volunteers with differing alcohol consumption habits.
Time frame: 2 years
Sleep quality
Daily self-reported sleep quality on a VAS scale. Self-reported estimated sleep-time in previous 24 hours.
Time frame: 2 years
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Alcohol withdrawal symptoms assessed by use of the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar). Measures of pulse, blood pressure and respiratory frequency.
Time frame: 2 years
Anxiety
Anxiety assessed with VAS questionnaires
Time frame: 2 years
Alcohol craving
Alcohol craving assessed with the Desire for Alcohol Questionnaire (DAQ)
Time frame: 2 years
Alcohol intake
Asses alcohol intake after the trial at one month and one year after completion, using the Timeline Follow Back method (TLFB). Assess the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) at the beginning of the trial and one year after termination of the trial
Time frame: 2 years
Mood
Mood, assessed by the Major Depression Inventory scale, MDI. The MDI is a self report mood questionnaire. Symptoms are rated based on how the patient has been feeling over the past two weeks. The diagnostic demarcation line indicates at which point a symptom is severe enough to be used in the DSM-IV diagnostic algorithm of major depression. Each question has a point giving system from 0-5 points. The higher the score, the more severe outcome. Scores from 20-24 indicates minor depressive symptoms. Scores from 25-29 indicates a moderate depression. Scores from 30 and above indicates major depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Assess mood measured by VAS questionnaires during the trial, and by the Major Depressive Inventory (MDI) at screening and one-month follow-up
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