The Ketogenic Diet in Colorectal Cancer: A Means to an End.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to explore the ketogenic diet's potential in preventing colonic carcinogenesis and its role as an adjunctive measure to chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.
Results Summary
The ketogenic diet reduces glucose availability for tumors and promotes ketone body production, which cancer cells cannot utilize, thereby inhibiting their progression. Recent findings highlight β-hydroxybutyrate's anti-tumor potential in colorectal cancer, though the diet has drawbacks like gastrointestinal disorders and weight loss.
Population
Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Effective Dosage
Not specified.
Duration
Not specified.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high lipid and high glucose diets | increase | colorectal cancer | - | - | increase the risk of | #1 |
the ketogenic diet | decrease | tumors | - | - | decreases the amount of available glucose for | #2 |
the ketogenic diet | increase | ketone bodies | healthy cells | - | shifts to the production of | #3 |
the ketogenic diet | decrease | progression and survival | cancer cells | - | depriving them of the energy needed for | #4 |
the ketogenic diet | neutral | several types of cancers | - | - | beneficial effects in | #5 |
the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate | neutral | colorectal cancer | - | - | possess anti-tumor potential in | #6 |
the ketogenic diet | increase | gastrointestinal disorders and weight loss | - | - | drawbacks, some of which are related to | #7 |
exogenous ketone supplementation | neutral | this setting | metastatic patients | - | promising role in | #8 |
Some diets, such as high lipid and high glucose diets, are known to increase the risk of colorectal cancer. On the other hand, little is known about diets that prevent colonic carcinogenesis. The ketogenic diet, which is characterized by high fat and very low carbohydrate content, is one such diet. The ketogenic diet decreases the amount of available glucose for tumors and shifts to the production of ketone bodies as an alternative energy source for healthy cells. Cancer cells are unable to use the ketone bodies for energy thus depriving them of the energy needed for progression and survival. Many studies reported the beneficial effects of the ketogenic diet in several types of cancers. Recently, the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate has been found to possess anti-tumor potential in colorectal cancer. Despite its beneficial effects, the ketogenic diet also has some drawbacks, some of which are related to gastrointestinal disorders and weight loss. Thus, studies are being directed at this time towards finding alternatives to following a strict ketogenic diet and supplementing patients with the ketone bodies responsible for its beneficial effects in the hope of overcoming some potential setbacks. This article discusses the mechanism by which a ketogenic diet influences growth and proliferation of tumor cells, it sheds the light on the most recent trials regarding its use as an adjunctive measure to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, and it explains the limitations of its usage in metastatic patients and the promising role of exogenous ketone supplementation in this setting.