From the Guidelines
The ketogenic diet is not recommended as a replacement for conventional cancer treatments, and its use should be carefully considered and monitored by a healthcare team, including an oncologist and a registered dietitian, due to potential side effects and nutrient deficiencies. The ketogenic diet shows some promise for cancer patients, but research is still preliminary and mixed. Some laboratory and animal studies suggest that a keto diet may help slow the growth of certain cancers by restricting glucose available to cancer cells, which often rely heavily on glucose for energy 1. However, human clinical trials are limited and have shown variable results. The diet may be more beneficial for specific cancer types, particularly brain tumors like glioblastoma, where some small studies have shown modest benefits when used alongside standard treatments.
Some key points to consider when evaluating the use of a ketogenic diet in cancer patients include:
- The potential for the diet to cause side effects such as fatigue, constipation, and nutrient deficiencies 1
- The importance of working with a healthcare team to monitor and manage the diet and any potential side effects 1
- The need for more research to fully understand the effects of the ketogenic diet on cancer patients and to determine its potential benefits and risks 1
- The importance of maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity, to support overall health and well-being 1
Overall, while the ketogenic diet may have some potential benefits for cancer patients, its use should be carefully considered and monitored by a healthcare team to ensure that it is safe and effective. Cancer patients should not adopt a keto diet as a replacement for conventional cancer treatments, but rather as a complementary approach to support their overall health and well-being, under the guidance of a healthcare team.
From the Research
Research on Keto Diet and Cancer
- The use of a keto diet in cancer patients has been studied, but the evidence is not conclusive 2.
- Some studies suggest that the keto diet may sensitize cancer cells to standard treatment and create an unfavorable metabolic environment for cancer cells 3.
- The keto diet has been shown to potentially inhibit the growth and spread of cancer by limiting energy supply to tumor cells, reducing oxidative stress, and affecting cancer cell signaling 4.
- However, human clinical trials on the effects of the keto diet for cancer-related outcomes are equivocal, and high-quality clinical trials are lacking 5.
Comparison with Other Diets
- A review of plant-based and keto diets found that plant-based diets are associated with reduced cancer incidence and are recommended for cancer prevention 6.
- The keto diet may be of interest in select settings, such as tumors treated with certain inhibitors, but currently available data support plant-based diets over keto diets for reducing cancer risk 6.
Limitations and Future Research
- The majority of studies on the keto diet and cancer have methodological limitations, and more molecular studies and uniformly controlled clinical trials are needed to evaluate its application in clinical practice 2, 3.
- Research recommendations for clinical studies examining the effects of the keto diet on cancer development and progression have been proposed 5.
- Additional prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to encourage the use of dietary modification across the cancer continuum and to personalize dietary recommendations in cancer populations 6.