Could a ketone drink curb binge and restrict urges?
NCT ID NCT05507008
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 04, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This pilot study tests whether a ketone drink can help people with anorexia or bulimia by reducing the drive to binge or restrict food. Forty participants will take the drink twice daily for two weeks, and researchers will measure changes in eating behaviors, mood, and brain activity. The goal is to see if this supplement offers a safe way to 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
- ketone drink (BHB supplement)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple supplement to help reduce the urge to restrict or binge in eating disorders.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 40 people, so results may not apply widely. It is also early-stage, so the supplement may not work better than placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
38 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Oct 2022
- Finished
-
Jul 2026
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 65 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Must currently meet DSM-5 criteria for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or OSFED Anorexia or Bulimia Nervosa based on the MINI diagnostic interview 2. Be medically stable as assessed by a comprehensive medical and behavioral evaluation conducted by a study physician 3. English as primary spoken language. 4. Ability to respond to EMA questions up to 6x per day within 60 minutes of receiving the message. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Psychotic illness/other organic brain syndromes, dementia, somatization disorders or conversion disorders 2. Current substance abuse or dependence in the past 3 months 3. Physical conditions (e.g., diabetes mellitus, pregnancy) known to influence eating or weight 4. Medical conditions associated with ketoacidosis: type 1 diabetes mellitus, acute pancreatitis, alcoholic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, hepatitis or Boerhaave syndrome (esophageal rupture) 5. History of significant head trauma 6. Indication of intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder 7. Known allergy to any of the KenetikR drink components: D-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (D-BHB), Stevia, Monkfruit, Potassium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate Potassium Sorbate or Taste Task Solutions: Sucrose, Potassium Chloride, Sodium bicarbonate.
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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 California San Diego
San Diego, California, 92121, United States
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