The University of Oxford study will be supported by a £1.17 million grant from the Baszucki Group, and will focus on patients aged 14 to 35 in the early stages of psychosis who have not yet developed full symptoms.
Dr Amedeo Minichino, lead researcher and associate professor at the University of Oxford, said: “We see promise in ketogenic therapy as a non-stigmatising, accessible intervention for those navigating early signs of psychosis.
“If effective, the diet could represent a novel tool that will allow us to intervene before psychotic onset.”
The trial will randomly assign 50 participants to follow either a 12-week modified ketogenic diet or a control diet.
Progress will be measured using the CAARMS (Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States) tool.
Participants will receive support from a registered dietitian and use glucose/ketone meter kits to track adherence, while the research team will monitor symptom severity, cognitive function, sleep, and physical health throughout the trial.
Jan Ellison Baszucki, co-founder and president of the Baszucki Group, said: “This ambitious project represents a rare opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how ketogenic therapy could fundamentally transform the trajectory of serious mental illness in a largely medication-naive population.
“We are thrilled to support the research team at Oxford in this first-of-its-kind trial.”
Long-term outcomes will be tracked for up to three years using electronic health records.
