Effect of Ketosis on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients With Lipedema

NCT ID: NCT04632810

Last Updated: 2025-03-13

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

70 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-03-22

Study Completion Date

2025-04-30

Brief Summary

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Lipedema is a female progressive fat disorder, characterized by a symmetrical increase in subcutaneous adipose tissue in the lower extremities with the exception of the waist. The condition is often misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed. The etiology is poorly understood. Affects about 11% of all women and may lead to pain and immobility. The pathophysiology may be related to sex hormones and inflammatory response. Lipedema fat has been reported not to respond to lifestyle changes or bariatric surgery, both in terms of weight loss and symptom reduction; including pain and quality of life. Clinical research on the effect of dietary interventions on lipedema does not exist, but a pilot study with a ketogenic diet showed a significant reduction in pain regardless of weight loss. The aim of the research project will be to investigate whether a ketogenic diet can be a treatment option for patients with lipedema. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial will be conducted to compare the effects of two diets. 1) energy-restricted ketogenic diet and 3) energy-restricted low-fat non-ketogenic diet for 8 weeks. Pain and quality of life will be mesured at start and immediately after the intervention. The hypothesis is that a ketogenic diet may reduce pain and improve quality of life.

Detailed Description

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Study design RCT comparing a low-energy ketogenic diet to a non-ketogenic low-energy diet (non-keto) in females with lipedema. This study was approved by the Reginal Ethical Committee (REK 93888) All participants have to provided written informed consent in line with the Helsinki Declaration, before entering the study. Participants will be randomized by block randomization with stratification by BMI categories.

Study population Females diagnosed with lipedema, aged 18-75 years old, and a BMI between 30-45 kg/m2, will be invited to participate in this study. Participants had to be diagnosed with lipedema by physiotherapists before inclusion. Inclusion criteria includs weight stability for the last three months (±3 kg).

Dietary interventions Diets were matched for energy (1200 kcal/day) and protein, but differed in carbohydrate (CHO) and fat content.

The dietary plans are adjusted with respect to food preferences, intolerances, and allergies. The participants will be asked not to change their physical activity levels throughout the study period.

Compliance Participants will have weekly follow-ups. Participants will be asked to fill out daily food records throughout the intervention period.

Ketostix will be used in the weekly follow-ups to measure urinary acetoacetate (AcAc). If the participants in the keto group were outside of ketosis, or participants in the non-keto group in ketosis, \>2 times throughout the study period, they were excluded from the per-protocol (PP) analysis.

Outcome variables

The following variables were assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention:

Anthropometrics and body composition Height and weight will be measured at baseline. Body composition will be assessed in fasting state with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis before and after the intervention..

Pain Pain will be assessed with the brief Pain Inventory. The participants rated their pain in a numerical rating scale (NRS), where 0 = no pain and 10 = Worst imaginable pain. The BPI assesses pain intensity: strongest pain, weakest pain, average pain, pain now, pain severity score using an average of pain intensity domains, and pain inference from daily activities, mood, walking, regular work, relationships, sleep and life joy. A pain inference score is also computed as the average of all pain inference domains.

Three different questionnaires are used to assess Quality of life. RAND-36. The Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite) q and the Lymphoedema Quality of Life (LYMQOL).

Conditions

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Lipedema

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Ketogenic low energy diet

Ketogenic low energy diet for 8 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Ketogenic low energy diet

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will follow a low energy diet, with 1200 kcal per day. Carbohydrates 75g (25E%), protein 60 g (20E%), fat 73 g (55E%) in 8 weeks

non-Ketogenic low energy diet

non-Ketogenic low energy diet for 8 weeks

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

non-ketogenic low energy diet

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will follow a low energy diet, with 1200 kcal per day. Carbohydrates 180g (60E%), protein 60 g (20E%), fat 27 g (20E%), in 8 weeks

Interventions

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Ketogenic low energy diet

Participants will follow a low energy diet, with 1200 kcal per day. Carbohydrates 75g (25E%), protein 60 g (20E%), fat 73 g (55E%) in 8 weeks

Intervention Type OTHER

non-ketogenic low energy diet

Participants will follow a low energy diet, with 1200 kcal per day. Carbohydrates 180g (60E%), protein 60 g (20E%), fat 27 g (20E%), in 8 weeks

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosed with lipedema by skilled physical therapists
* Body mass index \> 30kg/m2 and \< 45kg/m2
* Stable weight over the last three months (+2-3kg)
* Not currently dieting to lose weight
* Willing to meet for follow-ups every second week during the intervention
* Willing to sign an informed consent before entering the study

Exclusion Criteria

* Pregnant or breast feeding
* History of infectious diseases
* Medication known to affect obesity
* Enrolled in any other obesity treatment
* Having had bariatric surgery.
* Kidney disease is excluded
* History of psychological disorders
* Not mastering a Scandinavian language
* Being mentally disabled
* Malign disease
* Diabetes
* Any disease that leads to dietary advice that is not consistent with intervention advice
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Norwegian University of Science and Technology

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

St. Olavs Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Siren Nymo, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Namsos Hospital, Clinic of Surgery

Hallvard Græslie, md

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Namsos Hospital, Clinic of Surgery

Locations

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Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust

Levanger, , Norway

Site Status

St Olavs Hospital

Trondheim, , Norway

Site Status

Countries

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Norway

References

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Lundanes J, Nes VF, Aakervik O, Ryan L, Hansson P, Rokstad AM, Martins C, Nymo S. Changes in Cytokines and Fibrotic Growth Factors after Low-Carbohydrate or Low-Fat Low-Energy Diets in Females with Lipedema. Curr Dev Nutr. 2025 Feb 20;9(3):104571. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2025.104571. eCollection 2025 Mar.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40125475 (View on PubMed)

Lundanes J, Garseth M, Taylor S, Crescenzi R, Pridmore M, Wagnild R, Hyldmo AA, Martins C, Nymo S. The effect of a low-carbohydrate diet on subcutaneous adipose tissue in females with lipedema. Front Nutr. 2024 Nov 7;11:1484612. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1484612. eCollection 2024.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39574523 (View on PubMed)

Lundanes J, Storlilokken GE, Solem MS, Dankel SN, Tangvik RJ, Odegard R, Holst JJ, Rehfeld JF, Martins C, Nymo S. Gastrointestinal hormones and subjective ratings of appetite after low-carbohydrate vs low-fat low-energy diets in females with lipedema - A randomized controlled trial. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025 Feb;65:16-24. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.11.018. Epub 2024 Nov 19.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39566600 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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93888

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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