Ketogenic Diet for Osteoarthritis Pain and Mild Cognitive Impairment

This study is exploring whether a special eating plan called a well-formulated ketogenic diet can help reduce pain from osteoarthritis (OA) in your hip, knee, or shoulder, especially if you also have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The ketogenic diet is a very low-carbohydrate, higher-fat diet that focuses on whole, nutrient-dense foods. Researchers believe that OA and MCI share similar underlying problems with inflammation and metabolism, and this diet might help by addressing these shared issues. The study will measure changes in your pain intensity, how pain affects your daily life, your overall health-related quality of life, and your physical function over 8 weeks. To join, you need to be between 55 and 75 years old, speak English, and have a diagnosis of both major joint osteoarthritis and mild cognitive impairment. You cannot participate if you have insulin-dependent diabetes, recent cancer treatment, a recent heart event, kidney stones, fibromyalgia, or are already on a ketogenic diet.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 10 participants. It is not specified if it is randomized or blinded.
What's involved
You would follow a supervised ketogenic diet for 8 weeks. Assessments will be conducted at the beginning and end of this 8-week period.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your pain intensity, quality of life, and physical function will be measured from enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks.

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NCT07417891

Ketogenic Diet to Reduce Osteoarthritis Pain in MCI

Not Yet Recruiting
NAAges 55–75InterventionalTreatment
University of Kansas Medical Center
~10 participants
Updated 2026-05-04 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Well-formulated ketogenic 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
Pain intensity and pain interference using a Visual Analog Scale
Measured over From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
+3 more outcomes measured
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Hip
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Shoulder
Osteoarthritis
Mild Cognitive Impairment
MCI
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Dementia
1 sites across 1 states
Kansas1

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

English speaking
Diagnosis of major joint osteoarthritis
Diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment

Exclusion

Diabetes that requires insulin
Cancer requiring chemo- or radiation therapy in the last 2 years
Cardiac event within 1 year
Recent history of renal stones
Diagnosis of fibromyalgia
Already following a ketogenic diet
Following a dietary pattern that does not allow for a ketogenic approach
Unable to control one's diet
  • Pain intensity and pain interference using a Visual Analog ScaleFrom enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

    Patient- and caregiver-reported outcome. 0-10 with higher scores reflecting worse pain.

  • Health-related quality of life using a QuestionnaireFrom enrollment to end of treatment at 8 weeks

    Patient- and caregiver-reported ouctome.The PROMIS-29+2 Profile is a patient-reported outcome measure with domain scores converted to standardized T-scores (mean = 50, SD = 10), where higher scores indicate worse symptoms for anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and pain interference, better functioning for physical function, social participation, and cognitive function, and pain intensity is rated separately on a 0-10 scale with higher scores indicating greater pain.

  • Physical Function via Functional Activities QuestionnaireFrom enrollment to end of treatment at 8 weeks.

    Caregiver-reported outcome. FAQ is 0-30 with higher scores indicating worse impairment.

  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for brief global cognitive screeningFrom enrollment to end of treatment at 8 weeks.

    Cognitive screener completed by the participant and administered by the study coordinator. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a 30-point cognitive screening tool assessing multiple cognitive domains, with total scores ranging from 0 to 30 and higher scores indicating better cognitive function.