Status:

COMPLETED

Ketogenic Diet for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Dietary Interventions for MEntal Health Study (DIME)

Lead Sponsor:

University of Oxford

Collaborating Sponsors:

University of Sheffield

McPin Foundation

Conditions:

Treatment Resistant Depression

Depression

Eligibility:

All Genders

18-65 years

Phase:

NA

Brief Summary

Depression is a debilitating chronic illness affecting 1 in 6 adults in the United Kingdom (UK) at any one time. Antidepressants and psychological therapy are the main treatments, but some people do n...

Detailed Description

One in 6 people suffer from clinical depression. Antidepressants are a first-line treatment for depression, but at least 1 in 3 patients with depression do not respond to antidepressants and not every...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Aged 18-65 years
  • Have been diagnosed with depression
  • Currently on an antidepressant medication for a period of 4-weeks or longer
  • Have tried 2 or more antidepressant treatment trials of adequate dose and duration within the current depressive episode to which they did not fully respond. An adequate treatment trial is defined as at least 4 weeks of a medication at a minimum National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved dose
  • With a Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) total score greater than or equal to 15 at baseline
  • Able to understand and be willing to adhere to the demands of the study
  • Provision of written informed consent
  • Have access to a tablet/computer for online assessments, follow-ups with the registered dietitian, and able to attend appointments for assessments and treatment and adhere to study procedures
  • Have both a fridge and a freezer at home
  • Complete all baseline assessments

Exclusion

  • Currently following a low carbohydrate or ketogenic diet
  • Currently following a vegan or vegetarian diet as these diets are more challenging to accommodate in a Ketogenic Diet and adding vegetables in the control group is unlikely to be seen as helpful.
  • Currently receiving, or have received, in-patient psychiatric treatment or electroconvulsive therapy (electric shock to the brain under brief general anaesthetic) within the past year, or scheduled to receive such treatment during the study
  • Currently using St John's wort or other remedies for depression that were bought without a doctor's prescription
  • Currently have suicidal ideation with intent\* or attempted suicide within the past two months
  • Ever had an eating disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis
  • Have substance use or alcohol dependence
  • Have epilepsy
  • Have serious food allergies (experiencing food hypersensitivity that leads to anaphylaxis or other severe symptoms, which may require hospitalisation or are life-threatening) or otherwise require a special diet that cannot be accommodated within a KD such as phenylketonuria or lactose intolerance
  • Treated with insulin, sulfonylureas, Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, or Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors
  • Women who are pregnant, planning pregnancy in the next three months, or breastfeeding
  • Have a body mass index (BMI) of \<18.5 kg/m2
  • Have unstable or severe medical conditions (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular, renal, lung, psychiatric, or bleeding disorders, diabetes, etc.), currently receiving cancer treatment except hormonal treatment for breast cancer or non-melanoma skin cancer treatment
  • Have gallstones, renal tubular acidosis, kidney stones, small bowel malabsorption or a history of pancreatitis
  • Have scheduled a major surgery in the next 3 months
  • Taking part in other studies that may compromise this study or this study may compromise the other study/ies
  • Have read the trial protocol or the clinical trial registration information and therefore are unblinded
  • Live in the same household as another participant in the trial
  • Not able to complete the online task with a tablet/computer
  • Not willing to provide saliva, urine and stool samples

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

February 22 2024

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ACTUAL

End Date :

September 30 2024

Estimated Enrollment :

88 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT06091163

Start Date

February 22 2024

End Date

September 30 2024

Last Update

February 12 2025

Active Locations (1)

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University of Oxford

Oxford, United Kingdom, OX2 6GG