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Type2 DiabetesReDuCtionNCT03068078

A Reduced-carbohydrate Diet High in Monounsaturated Fats in Type 2 Diabetes

A study testing Low carbohydrate diet high in monounsaturated fats in people with Type2 Diabetes and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, run by Odense University Hospital at 1 site in Denmark.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Further studies are needed to establish the optimal diet for treating T2D. The investigators wishes to investigate whether a low carbohydrate diet, high in monounsaturated fats (LCD) will affect cardiovascular function, metabolism and the liver. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Low carbohydrate diet high in monounsaturated fats
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
185 participants
Where
1 siteDenmark
Study dates
Nov 2016to 4 Jun 2021
Phase
Interventional
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 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Duration of established T2D for more than six months and less than five years and HbA1c in compliance with T2D (above 48 mmol/mol), but without need for adjustment of antidiabetic treatment*
  • Serum cholesterol below 4.5 mmol/l and LDL cholesterol below 2.5 mmol/l at inclusion**
  • Age of 18 or above
  • Stable diabetic treatment three months prior to inclusion***
  • Be able to read and understand Danish language
  • Signed written consent
  • based on the assumption that metabolic and cardiovascular changes are less likely to be reversible in patients with longstanding T2D. HbA1c and need for adjustment and if the patient is eligible for inclusion will be evaluated individually based on the patients current treatment and current HbA1c by the project responsible. If the patient has duration of diabetes > 5 years but with current treatment ≤ 2 oral antidiabetic drugs and without insulin treatment, the patient will be accepted for enrolment.
  • To avoid changes in lipid-lowering treatment during follow-up total cholesterol should be below 4.5 mmol/l and LDL cholesterol below 2.5 mmol/l at inclusion. Higher levels may be accepted if the patient cannot tolerate lipid-lowering treatment ***Patients can be enrolled three months after medication change

Who cannot join

  • Low carbohydrate diet prior to inclusion
  • Hypoglycemic unawareness
  • Excessive weight loss within the last three months, defined as more than 10 kilograms
  • Current treatment with glucocorticoids (systemic)
  • Continuous treatment with steatosis-inducing drugs (e.g. carbamazepine)
  • Treatment with antibiotics up to 2 months before inclusion*
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Treatment with chemotherapy
  • Pregnancy or expected pregnancy within the next 6 months
  • Active alcohol overuse**
  • Active cancer
  • Significant co morbidity including liver disease
  • Poor compliance *Participants can be rescheduled to be included 2 months after use of antibiotics ** Prior alcohol overuse and eligibility will be evaluated individually

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Denmark1 site
  • Odense University Hospital

    Odense, 5000

Other trials in Denmark

About this study

Official title: A Reduced-carbohydrate Diet High in Monounsaturated Fats in Type 2 Diabetes: a Six-month Study of Changes in Metabolism, Liver- and Cardiovascular Function (ReDuCtion)

Further studies are needed to establish the optimal diet for treating T2D.

The investigators wishes to investigate whether a low carbohydrate diet, high in monounsaturated fats (LCD) will affect cardiovascular function, metabolism and the liver.

135 participants with T2D, will be following either a LCD, or a regular diabetes diet (RDD) for 6 months. Measurements and investigations will be performed at baseline and after 6 months.

Read the detailed description

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an increasing global problem, especially in developing countries. T2D is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), where hyperglycemia is especially important for microvascular damage.

Previous studies in T2D on reduced carbohydrate intake has shown beneficial effects on glycemic control, indicated by reduction in HbA1c, fasting insulin and 2h-glucose (OGTT) values. However further studies are needed to establish the optimal diet for treating T2D.

The investigators wishes to investigate whether a low carbohydrate diet, high in monounsaturated fats will:

  1. Improve glycemic control, dyslipidemia and metabolic markers in T2D despite unchanged anti-diabetic treatment.
  2. Improve endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) in the brachial artery as well as microvascular damage assessed by retinal scan, urine albuminuria and minimal forearm vascular resistance (MFVR).
  3. Improve Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) assessed by >2 points reduction in NAFLD Activity score with at least 1 point reduction in either lobular inflammation or hepatocellular ballooning, without worsening of fibrosis.
  4. Improve quality of life
  5. Improve gut dysbiosis

The study will be conducted through a 6 month randomized controlled trial with 135 participants with type 2 diabetes. 90 participants will be randomized to the intervention group, following a LCD, and 45 participants will be randomized to the control group (regular diet for diabetes, RDD). The below described measurements will be conducted before baseline and after 6 months, and the participants will fill out a QoL questionnaire at 0, 3 and 6 months.

Planned examinations are ultrasound assessment of flow-mediated vasodilation, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA-scan), retina scan, liver biopsy, liver-scans, blood, urine, hair, saliva and feces. Accelerometers will be applied before, during and after the study to evaluate compliance in unchanged exercise pattern. Compliance with diet will be evaluated by a clinical dietitian and through food diaries.

Baseline histology from the first 50 participants suggest that the current inclusion criteria doesn't cover the full spectrum of NAFLD (NASH and fibrosis) as expected. Further 50 participants who will have had diabetes for more than 10 years and who will not fulfill inclusion criteria number 1 and 2 will be included. On this group of participants we will only perform liver-investigations and DEXA-scan. This group of participants, will not affect the timeschedule of the main study.

Being tested
Low carbohydrate diet high in monounsaturated fats
Medical subject headings
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Atherosclerosis, Dyslipidemias

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Low carbohydrate diet high in monounsaturated fatsDietary supplement

    Also called LCD

    Participants will have to change their diet during 6 months

Study groups in NCT03068078
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Control-groupNo interventionThe control group will be eating a regular diabetes diet according to the Danish National Recommendations
Intervention-groupExperimentalIntervention-group will be eating a low carbohydrate diet, high in monounsaturated fats
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Low carbohydrate diet high in monounsaturated fats

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Glycemic control, dyslipidemia and metabolic markers

    Measured by HbA1c, serum cholesterol, blood glucose and metabolic markers

    Measured: Change from baseline at 6 months

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Endothelial function

    assessed by FMD in the brachial artery as well as microvascular damage assessed by retinal scan, urine albuminuria and minimal forearm vascular resistance (MFVR).

    Measured: Change from baseline at 6 months

  2. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)

    Assessed by >2 points reduction in NAFLD Activity score with at least 1 point reduction in either lobular inflammation or hepatocellular ballooning, without worsening of fibrosis.

    Measured: Change from baseline at 6 months

  3. Quality of life

    Assessed by questionaire

    Measured: Change from baseline at 6 months

  4. Gut dysbiosis

    Assessed by fecal sample

    Measured: Change from baseline at 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted1 Mar 2017
  2. Study startNov 2016
  3. Primary completion4 Jun 2021
  4. Study completion4 Jun 2021

Resources

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 N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
185 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03068078
Sponsor's protocol ID
S-20150217
Acronym
ReDuCtion
Status last verified
Jul 2021
First submitted
26 Jan 2017
Last updated
2 Jul 2021
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Rasmussen JLP, Gram-Kampmann EM, Stidsen JV, Hansen CD, Krag A, Olsen MH, Beck-Nielsen H, Handberg A, Hojlund K. Effect of a 6-month low-carbohydrate diet on the circulating fatty acid composition in patients with type 2 diabetes: a secondary analysis of an open-label randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2026 Sep;124(3):101400. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101400. Epub 2026 Aug 14.

    PubMed 42680257
  • Petersen EE, Hansen JK, Torp N, Gram-Kampmann E, Andersen P, Johansen S, Villesen IF, Bech KT, Thorhauge KH, Schnefeld HL, Gjol CMB, Jensen EL, Detlefsen S, Hojlund K, Thiele M, Israelsen M, Krag A, Hansen CD. Health-related quality of life, compliance and sustained adherence on a low-carbohydrate high-fat diet compared with a high-carbohydrate low-fat diet in people with type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr. 2026 Apr;123(4):101211. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2026.101211. Epub 2026 Jan 27.

    PubMed 41611090
  • Wernberg CW, Indira Chandran V, Lauridsen MM, Skytthe MK, Hansen CD, Hansen JK, Gronkjaer LL, Jacobsen BG, Di Caterino T, Detlefsen S, Thiele M, Guiliani AM, Villesen IF, Leeming DJ, Karsdal M, Graversen JH, Krag A. Ability of soluble TREM2 and PRO-C3 as biomarkers to predict changes in MASLD activity. JHEP Rep. 2025 Apr 22;7(8):101432. doi: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2025.101432. eCollection 2025 Aug.

    PubMed 40677693
  • Gram-Kampmann EM, Olesen TB, Hansen CD, Hugger MB, Jensen JM, Handberg A, Beck-Nielsen H, Krag A, Olsen MH, Hojlund K. A six-month low-carbohydrate diet high in fat does not adversely affect endothelial function or markers of low-grade inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes: an open-label randomized controlled trial. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2023 Aug 17;22(1):212. doi: 10.1186/s12933-023-01956-8.

    PubMed 37592243
  • Hansen CD, Gram-Kampmann EM, Hansen JK, Hugger MB, Madsen BS, Jensen JM, Olesen S, Torp N, Rasmussen DN, Kjaergaard M, Johansen S, Lindvig KP, Andersen P, Thorhauge KH, Brond JC, Hermann P, Beck-Nielsen H, Detlefsen S, Hansen T, Hojlund K, Thiele MS, Israelsen M, Krag A. Effect of Calorie-Unrestricted Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet Versus High-Carbohydrate, Low-Fat Diet on Type 2 Diabetes and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease : A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ann Intern Med. 2023 Jan;176(1):10-21. doi: 10.7326/M22-1787. Epub 2022 Dec 13.

    PubMed 36508737

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Low carbohydrate diet high in monounsaturated fats in people with Type2 Diabetes and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, run by Odense University Hospital at 1 site in Denmark.

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 8 inclusion and 12 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 2 Jul 2021. 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 Denmark. 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.

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?

Glycemic control, dyslipidemia and metabolic markers (time frame: Change from baseline at 6 months). 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 NCT03068078, which also lists 5 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 2 Jul 2021.

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