The ketogenic weight-reduction plan is excessive in fats, reasonably excessive in protein and low in carbohydrates. The thought of this fashion of consuming is that the physique burns ketones – produced within the liver from fats – as an alternative of carbohydrates.
In keeping with the Worldwide Meals Data Council, the weight-reduction plan seems to be changing into more and more in style. Within the US alone, an estimated 23 million folks observe a ketogenic weight-reduction plan.
Proponents of the weight-reduction plan say the well being advantages related to the pattern vary from supporting weight reduction to decreasing “mind fog.” However just lately, one other potential well being profit has been linked to the ketogenic weight-reduction plan.
Latest research have proven {that a} ketogenic weight-reduction plan can be utilized as an adjunctive remedy to extend sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in most cancers sufferers. However it might not all be excellent news, in accordance with new analysis from Britain, the US and Singapore.
The double-edged sword
The thought of utilizing ketogenic diets to extend the effectivity of most cancers remedy stems from hypothesis that cancers feed on sugar. As a result of the keto weight-reduction plan is low in carbohydrates, it has been steered that tumors can ‘starve’ their power supply for higher medical outcomes.
Of their latest examine printed in Cell metabolismResearchers have proven in two totally different experimental fashions that keto diets can certainly sluggish the expansion of most cancers.
However additionally they discovered that the keto weight-reduction plan can act as considerably of a “double-edged” sword. Unexpectedly, the weight-reduction plan additionally accelerated a ‘losing syndrome’ referred to as cachexia, which worsens the prognosis of the illness. In mice, tumor progress was slowed, however the onset of cachexia accelerated and shortened survival in mice fed a ketogenic weight-reduction plan.
“Particular diets could make most cancers remedy more practical. Nevertheless, our analysis highlights that dietary interventions have an effect on many organ methods past simply most cancers cells, which has each dangerous and optimistic penalties.” explains co-author Prof. Venkitaraman, director of the Most cancers Science Institute of Singapore on the Nationwide College of Singapore.
“The mechanism we recognized raises crucial questions on the usage of high-fat or hunger diets within the remedy of most cancers. Additional analysis is required to totally perceive the steadiness of advantages and dangers related to these dietary approaches.”
A doable answer
The researchers additionally discovered that administering dexamethasone, a strong glucocorticoid that improves urge for food and will increase endogenous glucose manufacturing, can delay the onset of cachexia and extend survival of tumor-bearing mice after a keto weight-reduction plan.
It has been steered that the usage of such medicine could suppress tumor progress, however with out inflicting losing syndrome.
“Our examine highlights the necessity to examine the results of systemic interventions on each the tumor and the host to precisely assess therapeutic potential,” the examine authors famous.
“These findings could also be related to medical analysis efforts investigating dietary interventions resembling ketogenic diets in sufferers with most cancers.”
What else does science say?
The examine provides to a rising pile of scientific analysis on the well being results – each optimistic and damaging – of following a keto weight-reduction plan.
For instance, in accordance with analysis from Poland, the keto weight-reduction plan could assist neurological illnesses, particularly in sufferers with neurological issues related to elevated oxidative stress and neuroinflammation or disruption of power metabolism within the mind.
A examine from Canada has additionally steered {that a} ketogenic drink may enhance cognitive operate in people affected by gentle cognitive impairment.
However it might not all be excellent news. In sports activities, it’s steered that keto may benefit endurance athletes by making their fats shops extra available. However in a overview printed in Journal of the Worldwide Society of Sports activities Diet In 2020, the examine authors concluded that science couldn’t—not less than for now—help the usage of ketogenic diets for enhancing efficiency in endurance occasions.
Nutritionists have raised considerations that following a keto weight-reduction plan could harm liver well being, and extra particularly, that followers could also be at larger danger of creating non-alcoholic fatty liver illness.
And just lately, a examine from the Nagoya College Graduate College of Drugs in Japan discovered that low carbohydrate consumption in males (however not particularly a ketogenic weight-reduction plan) was related to a better danger of all-cause and cancer-related mortality.
Supply: Cell Metabolism
‘Ketogenic weight-reduction plan promotes tumor ferroptosis however induces a relative deficiency of corticosterone that precipitates cachexia’
Printed July 11, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2023.05.008
Authors: Miriam Ferrer, Nicholas Mourikis, Tobias Janowitz et al.