Testing Medium chain triglyceride oil for first episode psychosis
Official title: Recovery With Exogenous Ketones and Antipsychotics
Metabolic and Clinical Evaluation of Medium-Chain Triglyceride-Based Exogenous Ketone Supplementation as an Adjunctive Treatment for First-Episode Psychosis
Interventions
Medium chain triglyceride oil
Supplementation with 15 g of medium chain triglyceride oil, a food product commercially available over-the-counter in regular grocery stores, emulsified in beverage of choice, twice daily (morning and evening) for 12 weeks.
Canadian Sites (1)
Hotel-Dieu CIUSSS de l'Estrie-CHUS
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for14 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +Referred or self-referred to the PEP Clinic of the Estrie region, either as an outpatient or inpatient.
- +Currently receiving a second- or third-generation antipsychotic at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks.
- +Able to read and communicate in French or English.
- +Capable of understanding and signing the informed consent formInformed consentThe process of being told what taking part involves, then choosing freely.Read more →.
Exclusion
- −any use of MCT oil, ketone salts, or a ketogenic diet within the past year.
- −Previous diagnosis of type I or type II diabetes.
- −Uncontrolled acute suicidal ideation at the time of inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → in the PEP clinic.
- −Other conditions that may interfere with participation, as determined by the qualified physician.
- −Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) or liver failure.
- −Metabolic condition affecting fat metabolism or inherited carnitine deficiency and its related enzymes.
- −Porphyria.
- −Pyruvate kinase deficiency.
- −Neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown etiology or rare genetic disease.
- −Pregnancy, childbirth within the past 6 months, or breastfeeding.
In plain language
Assembled directly from this trial’s registry record. Every sentence traces to a field below — nothing here is generated or interpreted.
What this study is
This study is testing a treatment for a condition.
This study is not organised into the usual phase numbers — that is common for device, behavioural, and diagnostic research.
What is being given or done in this study: Medium chain triglyceride oil.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.primaryPurpose
- designModule.phases
- armsInterventionsModule.interventions[].name
How the study is run
There is only one group in this study, so there is no assignment to different treatments.
This study is open-labelOpen-labelEveryone knows which treatment is being given — nothing is hidden.Read more →: everyone knows which treatment is being given, including you and the study team.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
There is one group in this study.
From the trial registry
Built from this field:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Who the study is looking for
The study lists an age range of 18 years to 35 years.
The study is open to people of any sex.
The study does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
These are the criteria the study lists. Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 15 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around August 2027.
The main measurement is taken over: 12 weeks.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Plasma total ketones concentration — measured over 12 weeks.
Plasmatic glucose concentration — measured over 12 weeks.
Plasma Insulin concentraiton — measured over 12 weeks.
Plasma Glycated hemoglobin — measured over 12 weeks.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT07122531 on ClinicalTrials.gov. The full registry text is further down this page — this summary never replaces it.
Not medical advice. What do these terms mean?
What is being tested — in plain terms
About Medium chain triglyceride oilOther
Supplementation with 15 g of medium chain triglyceride oil, a food product commercially available over-the-counter in regular grocery stores, emulsified in beverage of choice, twice daily (morning and evening) for 12 weeks.
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a other is here: An intervention the registry did not place in another category.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
Common questions
Answered from this trial’s registry record. Where the record doesn’t say, these answers say so rather than filling the gap.
Am I eligible for this trial?
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part. Concord cannot make that determination, and neither can any tool that has not examined you.
What the study lists: an age range of 18 years to 35 years.
The full inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → and exclusion criteriaExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more → are published on this page, exactly as the study team wrote them.
The useful next step is to bring this trial to your doctor. Answering a few questions first gives them something concrete to review.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
From the trial registry
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Would I know which treatment I am getting?
This study is open-labelOpen-labelEveryone knows which treatment is being given — nothing is hidden.Read more →: everyone knows which treatment is being given, including you and the study team.
There is only one group in this study, so there is no assignment to different treatments.
From the trial registry
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
Who can join?
The study lists an age range of 18 years to 35 years.
It is open to people of any sex.
It does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can confirm whether a particular person can take part.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: 12 weeks.
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2027-08-15.
How long any one person takes part can differ from the study length. The study team can tell you what the schedule looks like in practice.
From the trial registry
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
How many people are taking part?
The study aims to enrol about 15 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists one location: Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
Sites can open and close during a study, so confirm with the team before travelling.
From the trial registry
- trial_locations
About This Trial
The RECAP project will evaluate the clinical and metabolic effects of adding exogenous ketones to antipsychotic (AP) treatment in young adults with a first episode of psychosis (FEP). FEP requires early intervention to limit relapse, chronic symptoms, cognitive decline, and reduced life expectancy. Symptoms include positive (hallucinations, delusions), negative (amotivation, anhedonia), cognitive (attention, working memory), and mood disturbances. Standard care combines second- or third-generation APs with psychosocial interventions. However, many patients have persistent symptoms despite optimal treatment. Psychosis is linked to increased cardiovascular and obesity risk. APs can cause insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia, but some metabolic abnormalities-both systemic and cerebral-may precede AP use, suggesting an intrinsic metabolic dysfunction. Brain energy metabolism is often impaired, with altered insulin signaling, glucose transport, and ATP production. Glucose hypometabolism in the prefrontal cortex correlates with negative and cognitive symptoms, even before medication, resembling patterns in Alzheimer's, bipolar disorder, and depression. Ketones, especially beta-hydroxybutyrate, provide an alternative to glucose for brain energy. Ketogenic diets have therapeutic potential but are difficult to maintain, particularly in psychiatric populations. Exogenous ketones, such as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), can raise circulating ketone levels without major dietary changes. MCT supplementation has been shown to improve brain metabolism and cognition in other conditions, but no studies have tested it in FEP. This uncontrolled, prospective pilot study will provide 15 g of MCT oil twice daily for 12 weeks, in addition to participants' usual diet and treatment. The primary objective is to assess changes in circulating ketone levels and metabolic markers (glucose, insulin, HbA1c). Secondary objectives include feasibility, acceptability, effects on real-time glucose metabolism (via continuous glucose monitoring), clinical symptoms (negative, cognitive), quality of life, other metabolic biomarkers, and general systemic markers. This is the first study to test exogenous ketones in FEP. It will assess safety, tolerability, and potential metabolic and clinical benefits, offering preliminary mechanistic insights and guiding future integrative mental health strategies.
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See if this trial could fit youThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical trial eligibility can only be determined by the trial site after proper screening. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the most current status. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about clinical trial participation.