Keto And Cancer: Does This Diet Work?

The ketogenic diet, or keto, is a very high-fat, low-carbohydrate way of eating. It can help with weight loss by forcing the body to burn fat instead of carbs as its main source of energy. There is interest in how this diet may help treat some types of cancer, with the theory that cancer feeds on the sugar you eat, but a high-fat diet starves the tumors. However, no major cancer group recommends keto diets for either the prevention or treatment of cancer.

Keto's potential to slow cancer growth

Ketos' Potential to Slow Cancer Growth

The ketogenic diet, or keto, is a very high-fat, low-carbohydrate way of eating. It is believed that keto may help treat some types of cancer by starving tumours of sugar, which is their primary source of energy. However, it is important to note that no major cancer group recommends keto diets for cancer prevention or treatment.

How Keto May Affect Cancer

On a standard diet, fats should not make up more than 30% of your calories, while carbohydrates should constitute half or more of your daily intake. In contrast, the keto diet flips this formula, with fats making up as much as 90% of your diet and carbohydrates almost non-existent. This forces your body to switch to burning fat for fuel, a process called ketosis.

Cancer cells, however, rely heavily on quickly breaking down large amounts of glucose, a simple sugar and form of carbohydrate, for energy. Since some cancers cannot use ketones (molecules produced during ketosis) to grow, a keto diet may help slow their growth.

Research and Studies

Studies on mice and small trials on humans have suggested potential benefits of a very low-carb diet in cancer therapy. Some of these potential benefits include:

• Protecting healthy cells from damage caused by chemotherapy or radiation treatment
• Improving the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs
• Reducing inflammation, which encourages cancer growth
• Preventing weight gain during and after chemotherapy, as extra weight increases the chance of tumour recurrence

However, it is important to note that there have not been any large-scale studies in humans yet, so the effectiveness of keto diets against cancer is still uncertain. Additionally, there are concerns that a keto diet may worsen cancer by promoting tumour growth, as some keto-friendly foods like red meat can increase cancer risk.

While keto has shown potential in slowing cancer growth, more research is needed to fully understand its effects. Cancer patients considering the keto diet should consult with their doctor or dietitian to ensure it is safe and appropriate for their specific situation.

The Warburg effect

Warburg initially suspected impaired respiration in cancer cells due to functional defects in mitochondria, but findings from subsequent studies indicated otherwise. The mitochondria were found to be necessary for tumour growth. However, cancer glycolysis only produces two moles of ATP per mole of glucose, and this context is still a subject of debate. In many cancers, aerobic glycolysis is upregulated without mitochondrial dysfunction or OXPHOS disruption.

The exact reasons and physiology behind this abnormal metabolism are unclear, and researchers have attempted to reduce malignant cell growth in preclinical and clinical studies. Anticancer strategies based on the Warburg effect have involved the use of drug compounds and dietary changes.

Keto's impact on cancer treatment

Ketos Impact on Cancer Treatment

The ketogenic (keto) diet is a very high-fat, low-carbohydrate way of eating. It can help with weight loss by forcing the body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates as its main source of energy. While no major cancer group recommends keto diets for cancer prevention or treatment, there is interest in how it may help treat some types of cancer.

The standard diet recommendation is to limit fats to no more than 30% of your calories, with carbohydrates making up half or more of your daily total. However, the keto diet flips this formula, with up to 90% of calories coming from fats and very few carbs. This forces the body to switch to burning fat for fuel, a process called ketosis, which breaks fat down into molecules called ketones.

Cancer cells are adapted to get most of their energy by quickly breaking down glucose, a form of carbohydrate. A keto diet may starve some cancers by depriving them of the glucose they need to grow. This has led to hopes that a ketogenic diet may boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.

Research and Studies

Studies have suggested some potential benefits of a very low-carb keto diet in cancer therapy. Research on mice and small human trials show that a keto diet may:

• Protect healthy cells from damage caused by chemotherapy or radiation treatment
• Help anti-cancer drugs work faster or better
• Ease inflammation, which can encourage cancer growth
• Help prevent weight gain during and after chemotherapy, thereby reducing the chance of tumour recurrence

However, there have not been any large studies in humans yet, so the effectiveness of keto diets against cancer is still uncertain. Several clinical trials are ongoing.

Types of Cancer

Research suggests that if and how the keto diet helps fight cancer may depend on the type of cancer. Some of the strongest reports of keto's possible benefits have come from glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain cancer. However, it doesn't seem to work on other kinds of brain cancer. There is also limited evidence that a high-fat, low-carb diet may help suppress solid cancers in the prostate, breast, stomach, and liver.

Mechanisms of Action

While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, researchers believe that starving cancer cells of glucose is not the only way keto diets may help. For example, studies have shown that keto may also change the expression of genes, which in turn controls the behaviour of cells.

Risks and Considerations

It is important to note that some keto-friendly foods like red meat can increase cancer risk. The keto diet is also challenging to stick to due to limited food choices. Additionally, diets high in fat are associated with heart disease and obesity.

While there is potential that the keto diet could help some cancer patients, it can also harm others. Depending on the type of cancer or treatment, the body may not be able to break down the proteins and fats in a keto diet, leading to digestive problems.

Therefore, it is crucial to consult with a doctor or dietitian before starting the keto diet or any other diet. Different diet plans work for different people, and a professional can help determine the best approach to reach health goals.

Keto's side effects

While the ketogenic diet has been shown to have some positive effects on cancer treatment, it also has several side effects that patients should be aware of.

Firstly, ketogenic diets are high in fat and very low in carbohydrates, which can lead to an increase in ketones in the bloodstream. Ketones are a type of acid produced by the liver, and too many of them can cause dehydration and alter the chemical balance of the blood. This condition, known as ketoacidosis, can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Secondly, the ketogenic diet eliminates entire food groups, such as carbohydrates and sugars, which can be difficult to stick to long-term. Most people tend to regain some or all of the weight lost when they stop the keto diet and resume a less restrictive eating pattern. Additionally, high-fat diets have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and obesity.

Furthermore, some keto-friendly foods, like red meat, are associated with a higher risk of cancer. This means that a ketogenic diet could potentially worsen cancer outcomes or increase the risk of developing cancer in the first place.

Another important consideration is that the keto diet may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with certain types of cancer or undergoing specific cancer treatments. In some cases, the body may not be able to properly break down the proteins and fats in the diet, leading to digestive problems and other negative consequences.

Lastly, while the keto diet has been shown to slow tumour growth in mice, it has also been found to accelerate cachexia, a lethal wasting disease characterised by extreme weight loss, fatigue, and immune suppression. This highlights the potential dangers of the keto diet for cancer patients and the need for careful monitoring and medical supervision.

Keto's limitations

Ketogenic Diet's Limitations

The ketogenic diet, or keto diet, is a very high-fat, low-carbohydrate way of eating. While it has been rumoured to cure cancer, no single food can do that. Furthermore, no major cancer group recommends keto diets for either the prevention or treatment of cancer. The keto diet has several limitations, which are outlined below.

Firstly, the keto diet may not be the healthiest way to lose weight. When the body burns fat because it is starved of carbohydrates, it makes ketones, a type of acid produced by the liver and sent into the bloodstream. An excess of ketones can lead to dehydration and alter the chemical balance of the blood.

Secondly, the keto diet is difficult to stick to long-term as it involves cutting out entire food groups, and most people regain some or all of the weight lost when they resume a less extreme diet.

Thirdly, diets high in fat are associated with heart disease and obesity. Many keto-safe foods, like red meat, can increase the risk of cancer.

Additionally, depending on the type of cancer or cancer treatment, some people's bodies may not be able to break down the proteins and fats in the keto diet, which could lead to other digestive problems.

Finally, the keto diet is not a cure for cancer. While some studies in mice and small trials on humans have shown that a keto diet may slow the growth of some types of tumours, there have not been any large studies in humans yet. Furthermore, some studies suggest that a keto diet may worsen cancer by promoting tumour growth.

In conclusion, while the keto diet may have some potential benefits for cancer patients, it also has several limitations and may even be harmful in certain cases. It is important for individuals to consult with a doctor or dietitian before starting the keto diet or any other diet to ensure it is safe and appropriate for their specific needs and health goals.

Frequently asked questions