Ketogenic diet may offer pain relief for women with lipedema

NCT ID NCT04632810

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 21, 2026 · Last updated Jul 22, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study investigates whether a low-energy ketogenic diet can reduce pain and improve quality of life in women with lipedema, a painful fat disorder affecting about 11% of women. Participants follow either a ketogenic or a non-ketogenic low-energy diet for 8 weeks. The goal is to see if ketosis, regardless of weight loss, can ease symptoms.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: a ketogenic low-energy diet
What this could lead to: If it works, this could offer a dietary approach to reduce pain and improve daily life for women with lipedema, a condition with few treatment options.
What could go wrong: This is a small, short-term trial (8 weeks) with only 70 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The diet is restrictive and may be hard to maintain long-term.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Ketosis Lipedema Pain Weight Loss

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LIPEDEMA

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust

Levanger, Norway
St Olavs Hospital

Trondheim, Norway

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