A 2-arm (sequence), 2-period, 2-treatments, single blinded (outcome assessor), randomized crossover-trial (12+12 weeks with immediate contrast) comparing a low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet (LCHF) with a high-carbohydrate-low-fat diet (HCLF) among individuals with prodromal Alzheimer's disease.
The impact of macronutritional composition on cognitive health is not fully understood. On one hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines propose a limit of total fat intake at 30% of total energy intake (E%), implying that carbohydrates provide at least 50 E%. On the other hand, some pilot studies on ketogenic diets (strict carbohydrate restriction, ≤10 E%) have shown promising results-while liberal carbohydrate restriction has not been investigated in a clinical trial among individuals with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). It is unclear how important the metabolic state ketosis is for driving potential effects of ketogenic diets on cognitive health outcomes, and our previous observational analyses suggest that even macronutritional changes in the non-ketogenic range might impact cognitive function-although estimated effects differed between sub-samples. This pilot study evaluates the potential of liberal carbohydrate restriction, alternatively fat restriction, as targets for future large scale trials. Participants must be diagnosed with prodromal Alzheimer's disease, which means MCI in combination with biologically validated Alzheimer-pathology-but absence of dementia. The aim of this trial is to generate a contrast within participants regarding a diet parameter of special interest: the carbohydrate/fat-ratio (CFr). In a randomized order, participants will be exposed to 12 weeks with a low CFr diet (LCHF) and 12 weeks with a high CFr diet (HCLF). In LCHF, sustained ketosis is not an aim but transient mild ketosis may appear in some participants. The following strategies will be used to enhance adherence: * A mandatory supportive study partner. * Delivery of one daily meal. * Delivery of some key ingredients for self-prepared meals. * Individualized guidance by a dietitian, with consideration of preferred protein sources and complexity of cooking. Beyond a dichotomized comparison between the diet phases, the study is expected to generate data for a substantial number of observational panel analyses where individual continuous CFr-levels assessed at 5 timepoints may be used as the predictor variable. Those CFr-data will be assessed in parallel with health outcomes including neurodegenerative biomarkers in blood, metabolic biomarkers, and Continous Glucose Monitoring (CGM). Cognitive performance is measured only at 3 timepoints to minimize learning effects. The sample size is adapted to assess feasibility and trends in health outcomes. Due to the limited statistical power there is a considerable risk for type-II errors; therefore, p-values \>0.05 should not be interpreted as absence of a clinically meaningful effect in this pilot. Effect modification will be explored by one pre-specified stratification: 1. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes epsilon-3/4 and 4/4; 2. All other APOE-genotypes. A cross-over design with immediate contrast (no "wash-out" period) is applied, since it is not possible to define a wash-out value of CFr or reliably keep all participants on a particular CFr between the diet periods. Period 1 (and 2) may have a carry-over effect from pre-study CFr and period 2 may have a carry-over effect from period 1. Primary comparisons against baseline are at the end of each period (weeks 12 \& 24) when carry-over effects are assumed to be relatively low.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
40
Karolinska University Hospital
Solna, Sweden
RECRUITINGRecruitment Rate
Number of participants that are randomized within 1 year from start of recruitment, or time to reach 40 randomized participants if reached within \<1 year.
Time frame: 1 year from recruitment start
Adherence
Self-reported carbohydrate/fat-ratio (CFr) from 7-day food record: Intra-individual difference in CFr (log-transformed) between the diet treatments (mean Period 1 \[week 6 \&12\] vs. mean Period 2 \[week 18 \& 24\], reversed by arm) expressed as standard deviations of the baseline distribution.
Time frame: Week 0, 6, 12, 18, 24
Retention Rate
The proportion of those randomized who complete the 12-week and 24-week follow-up with data on both a. Self-reported carbohydrate/fat-ratio; b. Secondary outcomes
Time frame: Until the end of data collection
Global Cognition
Mean of z-scores (higher=better) from 13 sub-tests of a modified Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB), subsequently z-transformed. Sources of sub-tests include Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) test battery and Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS). 1. CERAD 10-word List Learning 2. CERAD 10-word Delayed Recall 3. CERAD 10-word Recognition 4. WMS-Verbal Immediate (story) 5. WMS-Verbal Delayed (story) 6. WMS-Digit Span 7. WMS-Visual Paired Associates 8. Category Fluency 9. CERAD Constructional Praxis 10. CERAD Constructional Praxis Recall 11. Letter Digit Substitution Test 12. Trail Making Test A 13. Trail Making Test B
Time frame: Week 0, 12, 24
Amyloid β-42/40
Ratio between β-Amyloid concentrations in blood.
Time frame: Week 0, 6, 12, 18, 24; Primary comparison: ∆0-12 weeks (w) vs. ∆0-24 w, reversed by arm.
Phospho-Tau (pTau) 181/231/217
pTau concentrations in blood.
Time frame: Week 0, 6, 12, 18, 24; Primary comparison: ∆0-12 w vs. ∆0-24 w, reversed by arm.
Neurofilament Light (NFL)
NFL concentrations in blood.
Time frame: Week 0, 6, 12, 18, 24; Primary comparison: ∆0-12 w vs. ∆0-24 w, reversed by arm.
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)
GFAP concentrations in blood.
Time frame: Week 0, 6, 12, 18, 24; Primary comparison: ∆0-12 w vs. ∆0-24 w, reversed by arm.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.