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Ketogenic Diet for Spinal Cord Injury Recovery

This study is exploring whether a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, called a Ketogenic Diet, can help improve recovery after a spinal cord injury. Researchers want to see if this diet, compared to a Standard Diet, can significantly improve how well people move and feel sensations, their blood sugar control, and their independence in daily activities. This study focuses on how the diet might affect cell death (APOPTOSIS) after injury. You might be able to join if you are between 19 and 60 years old and have a spinal cord injury. The study aims to enroll 60 participants. The current status of this study is unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 60 participants. It compares a Ketogenic Diet to a Standard Diet.
What's involved
You would receive either a Ketogenic Diet or a Standard Diet through a feeding tube within 72 hours of injury, and then solid food when you can swallow. Your sensory and motor function will be measured at the start, and again at 3 and 5 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your progress will be followed for 5 weeks after the start of the diet.

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NCT03509571

Ketogenic Diet to Improve Neuro-recovery

Completed
NAAges 19–60Interventional
Ohio State University
~28 participants
Updated 2026-08-26 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Ketogenic DietStandard Diet

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in sensory and motor function
Measured over Baseline (within 72 hours of injury), 3 and 5 weeks

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Explore related trials

Spinal Cord Injury

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Ohio1

Study leadership

  • Ceren Yarar-Fisher, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Ohio State University
  • Raquel Minarsch, DPT · STUDY_DIRECTOR · Ohio State University

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Clinically motor complete and incomplete spinal cord injury, age 19-60
ASIA A, B, C or D (ASIA: Neurological Impairment Scale)

Exclusion

Pregnant women.
Neurological (other than SCI), vascular and/or cardiac problems that may limit function and interfere with testing procedures
Patients with evidence of renal insufficiency and liver disease by history, physical examination, and laboratory tests
Patients with underlying pulmonary diseases

What this trial measures

  • Change in sensory and motor functionBaseline (within 72 hours of injury), 3 and 5 weeks

    The ASIA Motor Index Score will be used for measuring motor function. This index uses standard manual muscle testing on a six grade scale. The total possible score from upper and lower extremity is 50. For the sensory examination, each dermatome will be tested for both sharp (pin-prick) and light-touch sensation and will be graded on a three point scale. Numerically, the sensory scores total 116 points. Measurement of motor and sensory function will take about an hour and will be performed 3 times during the course of the study.