This is a 6-week ketogenic diet (KD) intervention where participants with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) will follow a KD plan, supervised and monitored by a dietician. Participants will be provided extensive educational and ongoing support on the KD, including personalized coaching with the ability to text a dietitian at any time and expect a response within 12 hours. Diet adherence and progress will be assessed daily using at-home blood ketone/glucose monitors, along with diet records. Participants will fill out health related questionnaires and undergo assessments of body composition, RA disease activity. This study also includes blood draws and fat biopsy of the abdominal region.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 65 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Diagnosis of RA according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria for RA.
* On stable doses of DMARDs and/ or biological agents (≥ 2 months prior to study enrollment)
Exclusion Criteria:
* Chronic inflammatory/ autoimmune disease other than RA (e.g. gout, inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, lupus, myositis, etc.)
* Prednisone or other glucocorticoid use in the last 4 weeks (exception: intra-articular glucocorticoid injections)
* Insulin use
* Hospitalization in the 30 days prior to study enrollment
* Acute or uncontrolled disease (e.g. cirrhosis, COPD, CKD)
* Malignancy
* Chronic infection (HIV, hep B/C, etc.)
* Heavy drinking
* On a ketogenic diet or exogenous ketone supplement (lses than 3 months prior to study enrollment)
* Recent weight loss (\>5% in the last 2 months)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.