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Ketogenic Diet and Cancer?
Ketogenic diet and cancer? What does the research say? There is an ongoing debate about the cancer patient’s diet as a possible complementary therapy to whatever conventional therapies the patient is also undergoing. Does diet matter? If so, which diet?
- Anti-angiogenic?
- Vegetarian?
- Vegan?
As a long-term cancer survivor, my meaning of the question, “does it matter?” means several things. First and foremost, when I ask if a diet matters when talking about surviving cancer, I mean does the cancer patient live longer, on average, when living on the diet in question? Secondly, does the diet supply the patient with the necessary protein, carbs, fiber, etc? And lastly, is the diet clean aka without pesticides, etc.
Below are three diets that are often included in the diet debate among cancer patients.
The study linked below finds that, on average, cancer patients live longer when living on a ketogenic diet. I linked the video below because Dr. Tom Seyfried talks about the same concepts that the study below does.
Can a keto diet eliminate cancer growth? Dr. Thomas Seyfried says yes
To complicate things a bit, I have often posted on PeopleBeatingCancer.org about the gut microbiome and its effect on chemotherapies and immunotherapy. I don’t know what a ketogenic diet does to the cancer patient’s gut microbiome.
Further, please pay strict attention to the study below when it states:
“However, long-term adherence showed large differences, with dropout rates ranging from 20% to over 50% in some trials. Factors contributing to non-adherence to ketogenic diets included taste fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and constipation, and the restrictive nature of dietary protocols.”
As almost every dieter knows, sticking to any diet can be difficult. Be honest with yourself about your ability to stick to the rigors of a ketogenic diet before you begin. If your goal is to enhance the efficacy of treatment while reducing treatment side effects, consider learning more about:
This is just me but if I were a newly diagnosed cancer patient about to undergo induction therapy of some kind, I would focus on prehabilitation. I would find a local clinic to administer intravenous vitamin C therapy to me, I would exercise each day moderately, get plenty of sleep, and eat a diet shown to enhance my gut microbiome. Because chemotherapy and antibiotics have been shown to disrupt the gut microbiome, I would work to eat yogurt, fruits and veggies, etc., regularly. I might even snack a bit on dark chocolate.
Please scroll down the page and post a question or comment. I will reply to you ASAP.
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Cancer: Evidence From Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Background:
Emerging evidence suggests that the ketogenic diet (KD) may support cancer treatment by improving metabolic parameters and reducing treatment-related side effects. This review aimed to synthesize evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the effects of ketogenic diets in cancer, focusing on metabolic outcomes, body composition, quality of life, and tumor progression. Treatment-related complications were considered as exploratory outcomes.
Methods:
A comprehensive review of meta-analyses were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses exploring the effects of KD on cancer and treatment side effects. After screening 615 articles, 24 eligible reviews were examined to explore the effects of ketogenic diets on metabolism, quality of life, body composition, and cancer progression.
Results:
KD improved metabolic markers such as glucose and triglycerides, and showed benefits in body composition and quality of life. Evidence on treatment-related complications, including radiotherapy side effects, was limited and heterogeneous.
Conclusions:
KD shows promise as a safe and effective adjunctive therapy in cancer management. More evidence is needed to draw firm conclusions.
Ketogenic diet and cancer Ketogenic diet and cancer Ketogenic diet and cancer
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