Can a keto diet help obese patients with advanced liver disease?

NCT ID NCT04383951

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Indiana University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a monitored ketogenic diet is safe and effective for weight loss in 40 obese adults with compensated NASH cirrhosis. Participants are randomly assigned to either a ketogenic diet or standard dietary advice for 16 weeks. The main goals are to check for liver complications and see how well people tolerate the diet.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: ketogenic diet
What this could lead to: If successful, this could show that a ketogenic diet is a safe way for people with NASH cirrhosis to lose weight and potentially improve liver health.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study with only 40 people. The diet may be hard to follow, and results may not apply to everyone. There is also a risk of liver complications.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cirrhosis of liver metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CIRRHOSIS, LIVER NASH - NONALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Indiana University School of Medicine

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States

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