A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Kenetik; Ketone Concentrate and Isocaloric dextrose placebo in Alcohol Use Disorder, Alcohol Withdrawal and Alcohol Dependence, sponsored by University of Pennsylvania. Enrolling by invitation at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-06.
Sponsored by University of Pennsylvania · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Basic science
The goal of this study is to study the effects of the ketone supplement Kenetik compared to placebo (an inactive beverage) on alcohol withdrawal symptoms during the 5 days of clinical alcohol withdrawal management treatment at the Caron Treatment Center.
This is a 5 day double-blinded, placebo-controlled intervention study of 50 treatment-seeking individuals with AUD, who are receiving detoxification treatment at Caron Treatment Center. Participants will be recruited for participation within 48 hours of admission to the inpatient unit. Participants will be consented and randomized to receive 10 g of ketone supplement three times daily (n=30; 1,3-butanediol and D-hydroxybutyric acid from Kenetik, VitaNav Inc., Washington D.C.) for 5 days or a placebo beverage (n=20). Benzodiazepines and other "comfort" medications will be administered daily following the Caron withdrawal management protocol, with additional benzodiazepines administered based on withdrawal symptoms, monitored with the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar). The CIWA-Ar is given three or more times per day clinically to determine patient withdrawal levels and adjust medication dosages. Total daily maximum CIWA-Ar scores, benzodiazepine dosage and other "comfort" medications will be analyzed with a repeated measures design, with a binary factor for intervention, factor of time, and intervention by time interaction. Daily mood and alcohol craving questions will assess differences between treatment groups.
1,674 studies on the registry are indexed under Alcoholism; 331 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 88 across 1,428 interventional studies indexed under Alcoholism.
Browse Alcoholism studies →University of Pennsylvania is the lead sponsor of 1,668 studies on the registry; 235 are open to participants now.
Of its 158 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 109 (69%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Ketone Supplement drink with 10 g ketones three times daily for five days.
Dietary Supplement: Kenetik; Ketone Concentrate
Matching Placebo drink three times daily for five days
Dietary Supplement: Isocaloric dextrose placebo
Ketone Supplement
Also known as: D-hydroxybutyric acid and R-1,3 butanediol
Drink that is taste and visually matched to Ketone supplement
Effects of ketone supplement Kenetik, three times daily (TID), versus placebo, on the need for benzodiazepines (daily use in mg).
To examine the effects of ketone supplement Kenetik, three times daily (TID), versus placebo, on the need for benzodiazepines (daily use in mg), while undergoing inpatient acute withdrawal management.
Time frame: 5 days
Effects of ketone supplement Kenetik, three times daily (TID), versus placebo, on Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment Alcohol Scale Revised (CIWA-Ar) scores (daily maximum scores).
To examine the effects of ketone supplement Kenetik, three times daily (TID), versus placebo, on Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment Alcohol Scale Revised (CIWA-Ar) scores (daily maximum scores, range 0-67) while undergoing inpatient acute withdrawal management.
Time frame: 5 days
Started Mar 2024 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2026, 33 months after the start.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
No contact was published for this record. The registry link below has the sponsor’s details.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.