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KARMA-P Trial: Ketogenic Diet for Muscle Health in Pneumonia Patients

This study, called the KARMA-P Trial, is looking at whether a special ketogenic diet can help older adults with pneumonia keep their muscle strength and improve their overall health while in the hospital. You might be able to join if you are 55 or older, have bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (a lung infection caught outside the hospital), are expected to stay in the hospital for at least 10 days, and can eat food by mouth. The study will compare a ketogenic diet (low carbohydrate, high fat) to a standard hospital diet. Researchers will be watching for any side effects and how well participants stick to their assigned diet. The study aims to enroll 30 participants.

Study design
This is a pilot randomized clinical trial, meaning participants will be randomly assigned to either the ketogenic feeding or standard feeding group. It will involve 30 hospitalized older adults.
What's involved
You would participate in the assigned feeding plan for 10 days while in the hospital, and researchers will check in with you at 1 month after discharge.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will have a follow-up at 1 month after the feeding period.

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NCT07308483

Ketogenic Approach to Restore Muscle in Older Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia - KARMA-P Trial

Not Yet Recruiting
NAAges 55+InterventionalTreatment
University of Alabama at Birmingham
~30 participants
Updated 2026-06-24 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Ketogenic feedingStandard feeding

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Incidence of Adverse Events
Measured over At baseline, at 10-day of feeding, and at 1 month follow-up
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Pneumonia

Explore related trials

Pneumonia

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Alabama1

Who to contact

Robert Mankowski, PhD
[email protected]
2059963006
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 55 years and older
Bacterial community-acquired pneumonia
Expected at least 10-day stay in the hospital
Ability to ingest food orally
Willingness to be randomized to either treatment group
Willingness to participate in all study procedures

Exclusion

Failure to provide informed consent
Moribund
Vegetarian/vegan
Severe cardiac disease, including NYHA Class III or IV congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, use of a cardiac defibrillator, or uncontrolled angina
Diagnosed dementia
Hip fracture, hip or knee replacement, or spinal surgery within past 4 months
Simultaneous participation in another intervention trial

What this trial measures

  • Incidence of Adverse EventsAt baseline, at 10-day of feeding, and at 1 month follow-up

    Number of adverse events collected using a standardized adverse event reporting form (Unit: Count of events).

  • Adherence to the InterventionFrom baseline to 1 month follow-up

    Percentage of prescribed intervention sessions completed, assessed through adherence logs and system usage records (Unit: %)