Help us research the links between a low-carbohydrate diet and disease
We need volunteers to take part in our research into how a very low carbohydrate diet can influence disease risk. You'll receive £150 for completing the study.
In this research study, we want to investigate and understand how very low carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets influence people’s risk of disease.
We hope our research will provide information on the potential cause-and-effect relationship between ketosis and disease risk. We will look at the different effects caused by ketosis achieved through restricting carbohydrate intake and ketosis from taking a ketone supplement.
Ketosis is broadly defined as a process that happens when your body doesn't have enough carbohydrates to burn for energy and instead burns fat. This process creates ketones, which it can use for energy.
Take part in this research study
This research study will run until January 2026.
What you’ll do
You will either:
- be provided with your required meals for four weeks of a low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diet
- maintain your normal diet for four weeks and use a ketone supplement or placebo (you'll have the option to then consume a ketogenic diet ahead of additional lab tests outlined later in this section)
After this, you'll visit the Centre for Nutrition, Exercise and Metabolism's laboratories on the University of Bath’s campus for two main testing days, plus an optional third visit.
On these days, measures of your metabolism (including breath samples and blood samples). We'll then collect small samples of fat tissue and conduct a whole-body body scan to determine body composition.
We'll also measure your responses to a meal by taking blood samples four hours after ingesting a beverage.
On the third optional visit, we'll take a blood sample and perform a whole-body scan to determine changes in metabolism and body composition.
What you’ll get for taking part
You will receive £150 upon completion of the study. We'll also provide you with cover for reasonable travel expenses, four weeks of food for a ketogenic diet, and provide you with information about your metabolism.
Eligibility
To take part in this research study, you must:
- be aged between 18 and 65
- have a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 45
You can use the NHS’s BMI calculator to verify your eligibility.
Your data
All data will be pseudonymised, which means that no one outside of the research team will be able to see your actual name or contact details. Your data will have a code number instead. We will keep all information about you safe and secure.
Once we have finished the study, we will keep some of the data so we can check the results. We will write our reports in a way that nobody can work out that you took part in the study.
Ethical approval
This research has received favourable ethical approval from the National Health Service (NHS) East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee (REC), REC reference number: 25/EM/0048.
How to take part in this research study
If you want to take part in this research study, or have any questions, please contact us.