Can cutting carbs boost semaglutide weight loss?
NCT ID NCT07280403
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This completed pilot trial tested whether adding a low-carb, high-protein diet (like Atkins) helps people lose more weight while taking the injectable drug semaglutide. 60 overweight or obese adults were randomly assigned to follow either a low-carb or low-fat diet for 3 months. Researchers tracked weight, blood sugar, and body composition changes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- low-carbohydrate diet
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could show that adding a low-carb diet to semaglutide helps people lose more weight than a low-fat diet.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot trial with only 60 people over 3 months, so results may not apply to everyone. The diet is hard to stick with long-term.
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
-
60 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2024
- Finished
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Nov 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
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: * Aged 18-75 years, inclusive * Overweight or obese individuals with a BMI ≥26 kg/m² * Non-pregnant, non-lactating individuals who are not planning on becoming pregnant during the trial and are using an effective method of contraception, as outlined: (a) Complete abstinence from intercourse two weeks prior to administration of the study product, and throughout the clinical trial. Participants utilizing this method must agree to use 2 alternate methods of contraception (see d) if they should become sexually active and will be queried on whether they have been abstinent at each study visit. b) Has a male sexual partner who is surgically sterilized prior to the Screening Visit and is the only male sexual partner for that Participant; c) Sexual partner(s) is/are exclusively female; d) Use of two acceptable methods of contraception, such as a spermicide, mechanical barrier (e.g. male condom, female diaphragm), tubal ligation, contraceptive pill, intrauterine device (IUD) or contraceptive implant. The Participant must be using these methods for at least 1 week prior to the screening visit and throughout their participation in the trial. * Started semaglutide injections for weight loss 14 to 35 days prior to screening, inclusive, are tolerating it and are willing to continue taking it * HbA1c ≤7.5% * Not taking any hypoglycemic agent, apart from a semaglutide * Systolic blood pressure \<160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure \<100 mmHg * Serum creatinine \<180 mmol/L (\<2.1 mg/dL) * Serum triglycerides \<9 mmol/L (\<800 mg/dL) * ALT or AST \<3 times the upper limit of normal * Untreated LDL-cholesterol \<5.00 mmol/l (\<193 mg/dL) * No major illness, trauma or surgery requiring hospitalization within 3mo of the screening visit * Ability to understand the study procedures and willing to provide informed consent to participate in the study * Subjects must be eligible to receive income in Canada and be covered by a health insurance plan such as OHIP * Subjects are willing to sign the informed consent prior to any procedures conducted Exclusion Criteria: * Failure to meet any one of the inclusion criteria * High alcohol consumption (\>14 standard drinks per week or \>4 standard drinks per day for males; and \> 7 standard drinks per week or \>3 standard drinks per day for females), with 1 standard drink defined as containing approximately 14g of pure alcohol. Examples of 1 standard drink include: 12 oz of regular beer (approx. 5% alcohol), 5 oz of wine (approx. 12% alcohol) or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (approx. 40% alcohol) * Individuals with a history of bariatric surgery, gastrointestinal disease, any other medical conditions or use of supplements or medications that increase risk to the subject or others or may affect the results, as judged by the Principal Investigator * Unwillingness or inability to comply with the experimental procedures and to follow INQUIS safety guidelines * Known intolerance, sensitivity, or allergy to any ingredients in the study test products * Subject is currently participating or recently (within 30 days of screening) participated in a clinical trial involving long-term exposure (greater than 24 hours) to an investigational drug, nutritional supplement, or lifestyle modification
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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
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INQUIS Clinical Research
Toronto, Ontario, M5C2N8, Canada
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