Can cutting carbs curb knee pain? a diet trial puts it to the test
NCT ID NCT05785884
First seen Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether a low-carbohydrate diet can reduce pain and improve quality of life in adults with knee osteoarthritis, compared to a standard USDA-recommended diet. Participants will follow a 6-week diet plan with all meals provided, and researchers will measure changes in pain, physical function, and mood. The goal is to see if diet quality, rather than weight loss alone, can offer a non-drug approach to managing knee pain.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- A 6-week randomized diet intervention comparing a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) to a USDA-recommended diet, with all meals provided.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could establish a low-carbohydrate diet as a safe, non-drug way to reduce knee osteoarthritis pain and improve quality of life.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is relatively small and short-term, and results may not apply to everyone. Adherence to the diet is key, and individual responses may vary.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
RECRUITINGBirmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States
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