RecruitingPhase 2

Effect of Ketone Esters on Liver Fat Content and Metabolic Function

United States40 participantsStarted 2025-09-26

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether ingestion of a ketone ester drink helps improve liver health and blood glucose control. Ketones are a type of energy source made by the body during times of weight loss, low carbohydrate intake and starvation. People enrolled in this study will be randomly assigned (by chance, like the flip of a coin) to one of two groups: Group 1: Ketone ester drink consumed daily for 6 weeks. Group 2: Placebo drink consumed daily for 6 weeks.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 40 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: * Age: ≥18 and ≤40 years; * BMI 25.0 - 49.9 kg/m2; * Intrahepatic triglyceride content \>5% assessed by using magnetic resonance imaging-proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF). Exclusion Criteria: * HbA1C ≥6.5%; * taking dietary supplements or medications known to affect our study outcomes including corticosteroids and other drugs associated with steatosis (metformin use will be allowable if participants have taken a stable dose for at least 3 months without any gastrointestinal-related symptoms); * active eating disorder, any anaphylactic food allergy and/or consuming a very-low-carbohydrate (\<50 g/day) diet; * Fibroscan controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) score \<240 dB/m assessed within last 2 months before entering the study; * recent (\<2 months) history of moderate-severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or other significant gastrointestinal symptoms; * consume tobacco products, excessive alcohol (females: \>14 drinks/week; males: \>21 drinks/week), or illegal drugs determined by medical history; * evidence of significant active organ system dysfunction, liver disease other than MASLD (e.g., Wilson disease, viral hepatitis, inborn errors of metabolism, or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency) or cirrhosis as a results of any condition or disease; * have had bariatric surgery or plan to have endoscopic or bariatric surgery therapy for obesity; * have undergone organ transplantation; * have HIV and any other type of congenital or acquired lipodystrophy; * …

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.

What they're measuring

Change in Intrahepatic triglyceride content

Timeframe: Before and at the end of treatment at 6-weeks

Change in insulin sensitivity

Timeframe: Before and at the end of treatment at 6-weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07097506

SponsorWashington University School of Medicine

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-07-31

Contact for this trial

Nikki Plassmeyer, RDN, LD

314-362-0590 nikkip@wustl.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More MASLD - Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease trials