Allgemeine Informationen
  • Krankheitskategorie Geistes- und Verhaltenskrankheiten , Ernährungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (BASEC)
  • Studienphase N/A (ICTRP)
  • Rekrutierungsstatus Rekrutierung abgeschlossen (BASEC/ICTRP)
  • Studienstandort
    Basel
    (BASEC)
  • Studienverantwortliche PD Dr. med. Bettina Wölnerhanssen bettina.woelnerhanssen@claraspital.ch (BASEC)
  • Datenquelle(n) BASEC: Import vom 10.02.2026 ICTRP: Import vom 16.05.2026
  • Letzte Aktualisierung 16.05.2026 02:00
HumRes48341 | SNCTP000003593 | BASEC2019-02109 | NCT04234373

The importance of the gut-brain axis and the effect of a low-carbohydrate diet in overweight and depression

  • Krankheitskategorie Geistes- und Verhaltenskrankheiten , Ernährungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (BASEC)
  • Studienphase N/A (ICTRP)
  • Rekrutierungsstatus Rekrutierung abgeschlossen (BASEC/ICTRP)
  • Studienstandort
    Basel
    (BASEC)
  • Studienverantwortliche PD Dr. med. Bettina Wölnerhanssen bettina.woelnerhanssen@claraspital.ch (BASEC)
  • Datenquelle(n) BASEC: Import vom 10.02.2026 ICTRP: Import vom 16.05.2026
  • Letzte Aktualisierung 16.05.2026 02:00

Zusammenfassung der Studie

In this project, we will investigate the effects of a carbohydrate-reduced diet. Depressive disorders and overweight frequently occur together, and it is estimated that about one-third of all individuals with depression belong to the "metabolic", i.e., overweight subtype.
We are conducting this project to find out whether overweight and depressed patients can benefit from this dietary adjustment.

The study consists of a screening and 6 study days.
Through an application software (= "App", Application software), participants are trained and gradually adjust their diet until after about 2 months a maximum intake of 130g of carbohydrates per day is reached. Before and after this dietary change, which is to be maintained for a total of 6 months, numerous investigations are carried out. These include blood draws (vitamins and trace elements, blood fats, blood sugar, etc.), determination of body composition (fat percentage, muscle percentage), determination of liver fat percentage, and a functional examination of the brain using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), as well as stool samples to determine the composition of gut bacteria, questionnaires on gastrointestinal complaints and mental state.

(BASEC)

Untersuchte Intervention

The research project investigates the effect of a carbohydrate-reduced diet ("Low Carb") on metabolism and psyche.

(BASEC)

Untersuchte Krankheit(en)

Overweight
Diabetes
Depression

(BASEC)

Kriterien zur Teilnahme

This project is conducted in Switzerland (Basel) and Germany (Lübeck). In Switzerland, the following participants are included:

Control group:
Normal-weight individuals (i.e., BMI = Body Mass Index 19.0-24.9kg/m2), aged between 18 and 55 years and physically and mentally healthy (control group) or have depression (Depressed, Slim).

Overweight individuals:
Overweight individuals (i.e., BMI = Body Mass Index >30kg/m2), aged between 18 and 55 years and have elevated blood sugar levels (pre-diabetes or diabetes) without or with depression.

(BASEC)


Ausschlusskriterien

Individuals who cannot participate include those who:

  • are already on a carbohydrate-reduced diet or otherwise follow a special diet
  • suffer from a mental illness
  • regularly take stomach acid blockers
  • regularly take probiotics or prebiotics (bacterial preparations for the gut)

(BASEC)

Studienstandort

Basel

(BASEC)

Switzerland (ICTRP)

Sponsor

St. Clara Research Ltd at St. Claraspital Basel

(BASEC)

Kontakt für weitere Auskünfte zur Studie

Kontaktperson Schweiz

PD Dr. med. Bettina Wölnerhanssen

+41616858585

bettina.woelnerhanssen@claraspital.ch

St. Clara Forschung AG, Basel

(BASEC)

Allgemeine Auskünfte

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland,

0041616858585;0616858585

bettina.woelnerhanssen@unibas.ch; forschung@claraspital.ch

(ICTRP)

Allgemeine Auskünfte

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

(ICTRP)

Wissenschaftliche Auskünfte

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland,

0041616858585;0616858585

bettina.woelnerhanssen@unibas.ch; forschung@claraspital.ch

(ICTRP)

Name der bewilligenden Ethikkommission (bei multizentrischen Studien nur die Leitkommission)

Ethikkommission Nordwest- und Zentralschweiz EKNZ

(BASEC)

Datum der Bewilligung durch die Ethikkommission

09.12.2019

(BASEC)


ICTRP Studien-ID
NCT04234373 (ICTRP)

Offizieller Titel (Genehmigt von der Ethikkommission)
Understanding gut-brain interactions and the effect of a low-carb dietary intervention in obese and depressive patients with and without glucose intolerance or diabetes: a pilot trial (BASEC)

Wissenschaftlicher Titel
Understanding Gut-brain Interactions and the Effect of a Low-carb Dietary Intervention in Obese Patients With and Without Glucose Intolerance or Diabetes: a Pilot Trial (ICTRP)

Öffentlicher Titel
Effect of a Low-carb Dietary Intervention in Obese Patients: a Pilot Trial (ICTRP)

Untersuchte Krankheit(en)

Glucose IntoleranceObesity

(ICTRP)



Untersuchte Intervention

Other: Low Carb diet

(ICTRP)



Studientyp
Interventional (ICTRP)

Studiendesign

Allocation: N/A. Intervention model: Single Group Assignment. Primary purpose: Treatment. Masking: None (Open Label).

(ICTRP)



Ein-/Ausschlusskriterien

Inclusion Criteria:

Group A: HEALTHY LEAN CONTROLS

  • Healthy normal weight subjects with a body-mass index of 19.0-24.9kg/m2, HbA1C <5.7% and fasting glucose <5.6 mmol/l
  • Normal eating habits
  • Stable body weight for at least three months
  • Informed Consent as documented by signature

Group B: PRE-DIABETIC or DIABETIC OBESE

  • Pre-diabetic/Diabetic obese with a HbA1C >5.7% and/or fasting glucose >5.6 mmol/l) and body-mass index > 30kg/m2, otherwise healthy
  • Normal eating habits
  • Stable body weight for at least three months
  • Informed Consent as documented by signature

Exclusion Criteria:

Group A: HEALTHY LEAN CONTROLS

  • Pre-existing low carb diet (less than 45% of daily energy intake by carbohydrates)
  • Pre-existing diet (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free etc.)
  • Psychiatric illness
  • Alcohol abuse, (smoking allowed)
  • Regular intake of medications, (oral contraceptives allowed)
  • Intake of antibiotics within the last 3 months before inclusion
  • Regular intake of pro- or prebiotics
  • Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, history of gastrointestinal surgery with major changes to the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. bariatric surgery)
  • Clinically relevant acute or chronic inflammatory disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Participation in another study with investigational drug within the 30 days preceding and during the present study.

Group B: PRE-DIABETIC or DIABETIC OBESE

  • Pre-existing low carb diet (less than 45% of daily energy intake by carbohydrates)
  • Pre-existing diet (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free etc.)
  • Psychiatric illness
  • Alcohol abuse, (smoking allowed)
  • Regular intake of medications (except: oral contraceptives, metformin, SGLT-2, statins, and antihypertensive, which are allowed)
  • Intake of antibiotics within the last 3 months before inclusion
  • Regular intake of pro- or prebiotics
  • Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, history of gastrointestinal surgery with major changes to the gastrointestinal tract (e.g. bariatric surgery)
  • Clinically relevant acute or chronic inflammatory disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Participation in another study with investigational drug within the 30 days preceding and during the present study.

(ICTRP)



nicht verfügbar

Primäre und sekundäre Endpunkte

Effect of a low-carb dietary intervention on glycemic control as defined by blood glucose level at 2h after an oral glucose tolerance test.

(ICTRP)



Effect of a low-carb dietary intervention on body composition as measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry;Effect of a low-carb dietary intervention on metabolomics as measured in plasma, urine and stool samples;Effect of a low-carb dietary intervention on gut microbiota composition as measured in stool samples;Effect of a low-carb dietary Intervention on brain network activity as measured with functional MRI;Effect of a low-carb dietary intervention on liver fat fraction as measured with MRI

(ICTRP)



Registrierungsdatum
nicht verfügbar

Einschluss des ersten Teilnehmers
nicht verfügbar

Sekundäre Sponsoren
nicht verfügbar

Weitere Kontakte
Bettina W?lnerhanssen, MD;Bettina W?lnerhanssen, MD;Bettina W?lnerhanssen, MD, bettina.woelnerhanssen@unibas.ch; forschung@claraspital.ch, 0041616858585;0616858585, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland, (ICTRP)

Sekundäre IDs
LCP Obese (ICTRP)

Angaben zur Verfügbarkeit von individuellen Teilnehmerdaten
nicht verfügbar

Weitere Informationen zur Studie
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04234373 (ICTRP)

Ergebnisse der Studie

Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse

nicht verfügbar

Link zu den Ergebnissen im Primärregister

nicht verfügbar