ObesityPhase 1NCT00160108
A Dietary Intervention- Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) Study; BGU-Harvard-Robarts Collaboration
A Phase 1 study testing dietary intervention in people with Obesity and CHD, run by The S. Daniel Abraham International Center for Health and Nutrition at 1 site in Israel.
Trial summary
Aim-to conduct a randomized clinical intervention study to compare three diets (low-fat, low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diet) for weight loss Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- What is being tested?
- dietary intervention
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 300 participants
- Where
- 1 siteIsrael
- Study dates
- Jul 2005to Jul 2007
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- BMI>27
- age>40
- History of CHD or diabetes in any age or BMI level
Who cannot join
- Pregnant or lactating women.
- Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
- Serum creatinine > 3 mg/dl.
- Liver dysfunction ( ³ 2 fold level of ALT and AST enzymes).
- Participation in another trial in which active intervention is being received.
- Any intestinal problem that would prevent the patient from eating one of the test diets (for example, gastric stapling that might prevent consumption of vegetables).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Aim-to conduct a randomized clinical intervention study to compare three diets (low-fat, low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diet) for weight loss
Read the detailed description
Aim-to conduct a randomized clinical intervention study to compare three diets (low-fat, low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diet) for weight loss
- Being tested
- dietary intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Obesity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
dietary interventionBehavioural
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
weight loss
Secondary outcomes (1)
CVD mediators measurements
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Sep 2005 (estimated)
- Study startJul 2005
- Study completionJul 2007
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (13)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for ObesityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 300 participants
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The S. Daniel Abraham International Center for Health and Nutrition
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), University of Western Ontario, Canada, Soroka University Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM), The Nuclear Research Center, Dimona, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
- Investigators
- Iris Shai, RD, PhD, Principal investigator, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevMeir J Stampfer, MD, DrPH, Study chair, Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USADavid Spence, MD, Study chair, Stroke Prevention & Atherosclerosis Research Centre, Robarts Research Institute, London, Canada
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00160108
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- DR300-3
- Status last verified
- Sep 2006
- First submitted
- 8 Sep 2005
- Last updated
- 20 Mar 2018
- Results posted
- No
Publications
National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) final report. Circulation. 2002 Dec 17;106(25):3143-421. No abstract available.
PubMed 12485966Yaskolka Meir A, Tsaban G, Rinott E, Zelicha H, Schwarzfuchs D, Gepner Y, Rudich A, Shelef I, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Ceglarek U, Isermann B, Kloting N, Keller M, Kovacs P, Qi L, Wang DD, Liang L, Hu FB, Stampfer MJ, Shai I. Individual response to lifestyle interventions: a pooled analysis of three long-term weight loss trials. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2025 Nov 11;32(16):1660-1670. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf308.
PubMed 40472282Conley MM, McFarlane CM, Johnson DW, Kelly JT, Campbell KL, MacLaughlin HL. Interventions for weight loss in people with chronic kidney disease who are overweight or obese. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Mar 30;3(3):CD013119. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013119.pub2.
PubMed 33782940Yokose C, McCormick N, Rai SK, Lu N, Curhan G, Schwarzfuchs D, Shai I, Choi HK. Effects of Low-Fat, Mediterranean, or Low-Carbohydrate Weight Loss Diets on Serum Urate and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Secondary Analysis of the Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT). Diabetes Care. 2020 Nov;43(11):2812-2820. doi: 10.2337/dc20-1002. Epub 2020 Sep 2.
PubMed 33082244Zheng Y, Ceglarek U, Huang T, Li L, Rood J, Ryan DH, Bray GA, Sacks FM, Schwarzfuchs D, Thiery J, Shai I, Qi L. Weight-loss diets and 2-y changes in circulating amino acids in 2 randomized intervention trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Feb;103(2):505-11. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.117689. Epub 2016 Jan 20.
PubMed 26791187Tirosh A, Golan R, Harman-Boehm I, Henkin Y, Schwarzfuchs D, Rudich A, Kovsan J, Fiedler GM, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Thiery J, Stampfer MJ, Shai I. Renal function following three distinct weight loss dietary strategies during 2 years of a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. 2013 Aug;36(8):2225-32. doi: 10.2337/dc12-1846. Epub 2013 May 20.
PubMed 23690533Canfi A, Gepner Y, Schwarzfuchs D, Golan R, Shahar DR, Fraser D, Witkow S, Greenberg I, Sarusi B, Vardi H, Friger M, Stampfer MJ, Shai I. Effect of changes in the intake of weight of specific food groups on successful body weight loss during a multi-dietary strategy intervention trial. J Am Coll Nutr. 2011 Dec;30(6):491-501. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2011.10719995.
PubMed 22331684Bluher M, Rudich A, Kloting N, Golan R, Henkin Y, Rubin E, Schwarzfuchs D, Gepner Y, Stampfer MJ, Fiedler M, Thiery J, Stumvoll M, Shai I. Two patterns of adipokine and other biomarker dynamics in a long-term weight loss intervention. Diabetes Care. 2012 Feb;35(2):342-9. doi: 10.2337/dc11-1267. Epub 2011 Dec 21.
PubMed 22190676Leichtle AB, Helmschrodt C, Ceglarek U, Shai I, Henkin Y, Schwarzfuchs D, Golan R, Gepner Y, Stampfer MJ, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Thiery J, Fiedler GM. Effects of a 2-y dietary weight-loss intervention on cholesterol metabolism in moderately obese men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Nov;94(5):1189-95. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.018119. Epub 2011 Sep 21.
PubMed 21940598Golan R, Tirosh A, Schwarzfuchs D, Harman-Boehm I, Thiery J, Fiedler GM, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Shai I; DIRECT Group. Dietary intervention induces flow of changes within biomarkers of lipids, inflammation, liver enzymes, and glycemic control. Nutrition. 2012 Feb;28(2):131-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2011.04.001. Epub 2011 Aug 6.
PubMed 21820871Shahar DR, Schwarzfuchs D, Fraser D, Vardi H, Thiery J, Fiedler GM, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Stampfer MJ, Shai I; DIRECT Group. Dairy calcium intake, serum vitamin D, and successful weight loss. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Nov;92(5):1017-22. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29355. Epub 2010 Sep 1.
PubMed 20810979Shai I, Spence JD, Schwarzfuchs D, Henkin Y, Parraga G, Rudich A, Fenster A, Mallett C, Liel-Cohen N, Tirosh A, Bolotin A, Thiery J, Fiedler GM, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Stampfer MJ; DIRECT Group. Dietary intervention to reverse carotid atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2010 Mar 16;121(10):1200-8. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.879254. Epub 2010 Mar 1.
PubMed 20194883Shai I, Schwarzfuchs D, Henkin Y, Shahar DR, Witkow S, Greenberg I, Golan R, Fraser D, Bolotin A, Vardi H, Tangi-Rozental O, Zuk-Ramot R, Sarusi B, Brickner D, Schwartz Z, Sheiner E, Marko R, Katorza E, Thiery J, Fiedler GM, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Stampfer MJ; Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) Group. Weight loss with a low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or low-fat diet. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jul 17;359(3):229-41. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa0708681.
PubMed 18635428
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Mar 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Dietary Intervention- Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) Study; BGU-Harvard-Robarts Collaboration
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00160108
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DR300-3
- Phase
- Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 300 participants
- Lead sponsor
- The S. Daniel Abraham International Center for Health and NutritionUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), University of Western Ontario, Canada, Soroka University Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM), The Nuclear Research Center, Dimona, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
- Study start
- Jul 2005 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jul 2007 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Sep 2005 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Aim-to conduct a randomized clinical intervention study to compare three diets (low-fat, low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diet) for weight loss
Detailed description
Aim-to conduct a randomized clinical intervention study to compare three diets (low-fat, low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diet) for weight loss
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- BMI>27
- age>40
- History of CHD or diabetes in any age or BMI level
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Pregnant or lactating women.
- Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.
- Serum creatinine > 3 mg/dl.
- Liver dysfunction ( ³ 2 fold level of ALT and AST enzymes).
- Participation in another trial in which active intervention is being received.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| dietary intervention | Behavioural | – |
Primary outcome
weight loss
1 secondary outcome
CVD mediators measurements
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Mar 2018.
- Background: PubMed 12485966National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) final report. Circulation. 2002 Dec 17;106(25):3143-421. No abstract available.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40472282Yaskolka Meir A, Tsaban G, Rinott E, Zelicha H, Schwarzfuchs D, Gepner Y, Rudich A, Shelef I, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Ceglarek U, Isermann B, Kloting N, Keller M, Kovacs P, Qi L, Wang DD, Liang L, Hu FB, Stampfer MJ, Shai I. Individual response to lifestyle interventions: a pooled analysis of three long-term weight loss trials. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2025 Nov 11;32(16):1660-1670. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf308.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 33782940Conley MM, McFarlane CM, Johnson DW, Kelly JT, Campbell KL, MacLaughlin HL. Interventions for weight loss in people with chronic kidney disease who are overweight or obese. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Mar 30;3(3):CD013119. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013119.pub2.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 33082244Yokose C, McCormick N, Rai SK, Lu N, Curhan G, Schwarzfuchs D, Shai I, Choi HK. Effects of Low-Fat, Mediterranean, or Low-Carbohydrate Weight Loss Diets on Serum Urate and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Secondary Analysis of the Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT). Diabetes Care. 2020 Nov;43(11):2812-2820. doi: 10.2337/dc20-1002. Epub 2020 Sep 2.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 26791187Zheng Y, Ceglarek U, Huang T, Li L, Rood J, Ryan DH, Bray GA, Sacks FM, Schwarzfuchs D, Thiery J, Shai I, Qi L. Weight-loss diets and 2-y changes in circulating amino acids in 2 randomized intervention trials. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Feb;103(2):505-11. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.117689. Epub 2016 Jan 20.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 23690533Tirosh A, Golan R, Harman-Boehm I, Henkin Y, Schwarzfuchs D, Rudich A, Kovsan J, Fiedler GM, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Thiery J, Stampfer MJ, Shai I. Renal function following three distinct weight loss dietary strategies during 2 years of a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Care. 2013 Aug;36(8):2225-32. doi: 10.2337/dc12-1846. Epub 2013 May 20.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 22331684Canfi A, Gepner Y, Schwarzfuchs D, Golan R, Shahar DR, Fraser D, Witkow S, Greenberg I, Sarusi B, Vardi H, Friger M, Stampfer MJ, Shai I. Effect of changes in the intake of weight of specific food groups on successful body weight loss during a multi-dietary strategy intervention trial. J Am Coll Nutr. 2011 Dec;30(6):491-501. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2011.10719995.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 22190676Bluher M, Rudich A, Kloting N, Golan R, Henkin Y, Rubin E, Schwarzfuchs D, Gepner Y, Stampfer MJ, Fiedler M, Thiery J, Stumvoll M, Shai I. Two patterns of adipokine and other biomarker dynamics in a long-term weight loss intervention. Diabetes Care. 2012 Feb;35(2):342-9. doi: 10.2337/dc11-1267. Epub 2011 Dec 21.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 21940598Leichtle AB, Helmschrodt C, Ceglarek U, Shai I, Henkin Y, Schwarzfuchs D, Golan R, Gepner Y, Stampfer MJ, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Thiery J, Fiedler GM. Effects of a 2-y dietary weight-loss intervention on cholesterol metabolism in moderately obese men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Nov;94(5):1189-95. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.018119. Epub 2011 Sep 21.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 21820871Golan R, Tirosh A, Schwarzfuchs D, Harman-Boehm I, Thiery J, Fiedler GM, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Shai I; DIRECT Group. Dietary intervention induces flow of changes within biomarkers of lipids, inflammation, liver enzymes, and glycemic control. Nutrition. 2012 Feb;28(2):131-7. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2011.04.001. Epub 2011 Aug 6.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 20810979Shahar DR, Schwarzfuchs D, Fraser D, Vardi H, Thiery J, Fiedler GM, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Stampfer MJ, Shai I; DIRECT Group. Dairy calcium intake, serum vitamin D, and successful weight loss. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Nov;92(5):1017-22. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29355. Epub 2010 Sep 1.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 20194883Shai I, Spence JD, Schwarzfuchs D, Henkin Y, Parraga G, Rudich A, Fenster A, Mallett C, Liel-Cohen N, Tirosh A, Bolotin A, Thiery J, Fiedler GM, Bluher M, Stumvoll M, Stampfer MJ; DIRECT Group. Dietary intervention to reverse carotid atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2010 Mar 16;121(10):1200-8. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.879254. Epub 2010 Mar 1.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Iris Shai, RD, PhD principal investigator
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Meir J Stampfer, MD, DrPH study chair
Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
David Spence, MD study chair
Stroke Prevention & Atherosclerosis Research Centre, Robarts Research Institute, London, Canada
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 1 study testing dietary intervention in people with Obesity and CHD, run by The S. Daniel Abraham International Center for Health and Nutrition at 1 site in Israel.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Mar 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Israel. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
weight loss. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00160108, which also lists 13 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Mar 2018.