Can a cooking oil protect the brain in Huntington's?

NCT ID NCT02453061

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tested whether a special oil called triheptanoin can slow brain damage in people with early Huntington's disease. 100 participants took either the oil or a placebo for 6 months, followed by 6 months where everyone got the oil. The main goal was to see if it reduced brain shrinkage and improved energy use in the brain.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Triheptanoin oil
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a treatment that slows brain damage and delays symptoms in Huntington's disease.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase study (Phase 2) with only 100 people. The results may not show clear benefit, and the oil could cause side effects like stomach upset.

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.

Huntington disease

As listed by the trial registrant

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

HUNTINGTON DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Department of Neurology

Leiden, 2300RC, Netherlands
Département de Génétique

Paris, 75013, France

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