Informazioni generali
  • Categoria della malattia Malattie mentali / psichiche e comportamentali , Malattie nutrizionali e metaboliche (BASEC)
  • Fase dello studio N/A (ICTRP)
  • Stato di reclutamento reclutamento completato (BASEC/ICTRP)
  • Luogo dello studio
    Basilea
    (BASEC)
  • Responsabile dello studio PD Dr. med. Bettina Wölnerhanssen bettina.woelnerhanssen@claraspital.ch (BASEC)
  • Fonte dati BASEC: Importato da 10.02.2026 ICTRP: Importato da 16.05.2026
  • Ultimo aggiornamento 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

  • Categoria della malattia Malattie mentali / psichiche e comportamentali , Malattie nutrizionali e metaboliche (BASEC)
  • Fase dello studio N/A (ICTRP)
  • Stato di reclutamento reclutamento completato (BASEC/ICTRP)
  • Luogo dello studio
    Basilea
    (BASEC)
  • Responsabile dello studio PD Dr. med. Bettina Wölnerhanssen bettina.woelnerhanssen@claraspital.ch (BASEC)
  • Fonte dati BASEC: Importato da 10.02.2026 ICTRP: Importato da 16.05.2026
  • Ultimo aggiornamento 16.05.2026 02:00

Descrizione riassuntiva dello studio

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)

Intervento studiato

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

(BASEC)

Malattie studiate

Overweight
Diabetes
Depression

(BASEC)

Criteri di partecipazione

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)


Criteri di esclusione

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)

Luogo dello studio

Basilea

(BASEC)

Switzerland (ICTRP)

Sponsor

St. Clara Research Ltd at St. Claraspital Basel

(BASEC)

Contatto per ulteriori informazioni sullo studio

Persona di contatto in Svizzera

PD Dr. med. Bettina Wölnerhanssen

+41616858585

bettina.woelnerhanssen@claraspital.ch

St. Clara Forschung AG, Basel

(BASEC)

Informazioni generali

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland,

0041616858585;0616858585

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

(ICTRP)

Informazioni generali

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

(ICTRP)

Informazioni scientifiche

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland,

0041616858585;0616858585

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

(ICTRP)

Nome del comitato etico approvante (per studi multicentrici solo il comitato principale)

Commissione d'etica svizzera nord-ovest/centrale EKNZ

(BASEC)

Data di approvazione del comitato etico

09.12.2019

(BASEC)


ID di studio ICTRP
NCT04234373 (ICTRP)

Titolo ufficiale (approvato dal comitato etico)
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)

Titolo accademico
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)

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

Malattie studiate

Glucose IntoleranceObesity

(ICTRP)



Intervento studiato

Other: Low Carb diet

(ICTRP)



Tipo di studio
Interventional (ICTRP)

Disegno dello studio

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

(ICTRP)



Criteri di inclusione/esclusione

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)



non disponibile

Endpoint primari e secondari

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)



Data di registrazione
non disponibile

Inclusione del primo partecipante
non disponibile

Sponsor secondari
non disponibile

Contatti aggiuntivi
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)

ID secondari
LCP Obese (ICTRP)

Risultati-Dati individuali dei partecipanti
non disponibile

Ulteriori informazioni sullo studio
https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04234373 (ICTRP)

Risultati dello studio

Riepilogo dei risultati

non disponibile

Link ai risultati nel registro primario

non disponibile