An interventional study of 7-KLCA and Placebo in Pre-diabetes, sponsored by ICE S.p.A.. Recruiting at 8 sites in Italy. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-16.
Sponsored by ICE S.p.A. · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
7-Ketolithocholic Acid, a naturally occurring bile acid, is a novel food currently under investigation for potential metabolic benefits, including glucose-lowering effects. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 7-Ketolithocholic Acid, administered alongside a low-glycaemic, hypocaloric diet, and increased physical activity in reducing fasting plasma glucose and other metabolic parameters in subjects with prediabetes. Demonstrating a clinically meaningful glucose-lowering effect would support its potential role in early intervention to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.
793 studies on the registry are indexed under Glucose Intolerance; 115 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 56 across 661 interventional studies indexed under Glucose Intolerance.
Browse Glucose Intolerance studies →This is the only study on the registry with ICE S.p.A. as lead sponsor.
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.
Diagnosis of prediabetes, defined by the following metabolic criteria:
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.
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.
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
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.
HbA1c
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Excipients
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Coated tablets containing 400 mg of 7-Ketolithocholic Acid, taken once daily in tablet form.
Dietary Supplement: 7-KLCA · Other: Diet and Physical Activity
Placebo tablets with the same aspect and composition of active comparator but not containing any active ingredient (no 7-KLCA), taken once daily in tablet form.
Dietary Supplement: Placebo · Other: Diet and Physical Activity
This is a prospective, randomized, double blind, multicenter study. Subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio; each subject will be included into one of the two intervention groups. Each subject will attend 6 visits in total Visit 1: Day -7 (Screening, Informed consent signature, sampling for laboratory tests) Visit 2: Day 0 (Eligibility assessment, enrolment, randomization, drug dispense; diary dispense) Visit 3: Week +4 (Telephone call, diary verification) Visit 4: Week +8 (same as Visit 3) Visit 5: Week +12 (sampling for laboratory tests like Visit 1. Diary verification. End of treatment) Visit 6: Week +16 (End of Study, EOS. Same as visit 5, excluding OGTT) The onset of Adverse Events and the use of Concomitant Medications will be verified and, if necessary, recorded at every visit. Both groups will undergo a low-glycaemic, hypocaloric diet, and recommended physical activity.
This is a prospective, randomized, double blind, multicenter study. Subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio; each subject will be included into one of the two intervention groups. Each subject will attend 6 visits in total Visit 1: Day -7 (Screening, Informed consent signature, sampling for laboratory tests) Visit 2: Day 0 (Eligibility assessment, enrolment, randomization, drug dispense; diary dispense) Visit 3: Week +4 (Telephone call, diary verification) Visit 4: Week +8 (same as Visit 3) Visit 5: Week +12 (sampling for laboratory tests like Visit 1. Diary verification. End of treatment) Visit 6: Week +16 (End of Study, EOS. Same as visit 5, excluding OGTT) The onset of Adverse Events and the use of Concomitant Medications will be verified and, if necessary, recorded at every visit. Both groups will undergo a low-glycaemic, hypocaloric diet, and recommended physical activity.
The dietary intervention in this study involves a low-glycaemic, hypocaloric diet, aimed at improving glycaemic control, reducing fasting plasma glucose, and supporting weight management, based on official recommendations from authoritative bodies such as the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Physical activity is a cornerstone of lifestyle intervention in prediabetes. It improves insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and cardiovascular risk factors, and facilitates weight management \[2,24\]. Combining physical activity with dietary modifications enhances prevention of progression to type 2 diabetes. All of the following will be recommended: aerobic exercise, resistance training, reducing sedentary time, flexibility and balance exercises.
Mean change in Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)
Difference in the mean change in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) from baseline to Week 12 between the treatment and placebo groups.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Difference in mean changes in HbA1c, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, body weight and/or BMI, waist circumference, 2 hr oral glucose tolerance test.
To observe the effects of 7-Ketolithocholic Acid associated with diet and physical activity on glycaemic metabolism, lipid profile and BMI/waist circumference.
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Assessment of overall safety and tolerability of 7-KLCA (400mg) administered for 12 weeks.
Number and description of Adverse Events and Serious Adverse Events (including laboratory changes) in the two groups of treatment (7-Ketolithocholic Acid 400 mg and placebo administered for 12 weeks).
Time frame: Throughout the course of the study period (12 weeks).
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Jun 2026; primary completion for Mar 2027, 9 months later.
Of 32 industry-sponsored interventional studies with no phase under Glucose Intolerance, half reached primary completion within 9 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 6 and three quarters within 37. This study's planned 9 months is close to that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 286 studies reached it within 26 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 44.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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