What is a ketogenic diet?
Ketogenic diets are low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and adequate-protein diets that drives the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates for energy. The exact proportions are usually a 4 to 1 fat to carbohydrate ratio and protein. Traditionally, ketogenic diets have been established as effective, alternative treatments for select cases of epilepsy and glioblastoma.
What is the rationale for a ketogenic diet in cancer care?
Ketogenic diets are low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and adequate-protein diets that drives the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates for energy. The exact proportions are usually a 4 to 1 fat to carbohydrate ratio and protein. Traditionally, ketogenic diets have been established as effective, alternative treatments for select cases of epilepsy and glioblastoma.
What is the rationale for a ketogenic diet in cancer care?
Some individuals believe ketogenic diets can reduce glucose availability to tumor cells, thus decreasing tumor growth. With a normal diet, our bodies convert carbohydrates into glucose, which is absorbed and delivered to parts of the body to fuel growth and activities. With a ketogenic diet, our bodies utilize a process called ketosis to convert fatty foods into fatty acids and ketone bodies, which serves as an alternative fuel source for healthy cells. By avoiding glucose, the rationale is to limit tumor cells’ access to glucose while feeding healthy cells with ketone bodies.
Do ketogenic diets improve outcomes of cancer therapy?
Do ketogenic diets improve outcomes of cancer therapy?
There is no existing clinical evidence to support the use of ketogenic diets for improving symptom and disease management. Previous data and active studies focus mainly on safety and feasibility of these diets in select diseases.
Sources
- Rieger J, Bähr O, Maurer GD, et al.: ERGO: a pilot study of ketogenic diet in recurrent glioblastoma. Int J Oncol 44 (6): 1843-52, 2014.
- Champ CE, Palmer JD, Volek JS, et al.: Targeting metabolism with a ketogenic diet during the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. J Neurooncol 117 (1): 125-31, 2014.
- Schmidt M, Pfetzer N, Schwab M, et al.: Effects of a ketogenic diet on the quality of life in 16 patients with advanced cancer: A pilot trial. Nutr Metab (Lond) 8 (1): 54, 2011.
- Kossoff EH, Zupec-Kania BA, Amark PE, et al.: Optimal clinical management of children receiving the ketogenic diet: recommendations of the International Ketogenic Diet Study Group. Epilepsia 50 (2): 304-17, 2009.
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