I’m so excited about this latest keto for cancer evidence that I wrote about it while poolside in Bali. Bali is awesome, by the way. But not as awesome as this study out of Iran published earlier this month: Feasibility, Safety, and Beneficial Effects of MCT-Based Ketogenic Diet for Breast Cancer Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial Study.
While mouse model studies, some human epidemiological studies, and anecdotal evidence have overwhelmingly demonstrated the value of a calorie restricted ketogenic diet for cancer treatment, I’ve so far only come across one scientifically rigorous human study of utilizing keto and the Press-Pulse method and that included only one stage IV breast cancer subject (who went into remission, spoiler).
This study included 60 participants with late stage breast cancer who needed chemotherapy before surgery. These participants were divided into two groups of 30. One group received 12 weeks of a calorie restricted, MCT based ketogenic diet in addition to chemo. The other received chemo alone.
30 months later 100% of the chemo+keto patients were alive. Sadly, only 60% of the chemo-only patients survived.
Furthermore, the study notes that “BMI, body weight, and fat% were significantly decreased in intervention group in last visit (P < 0.001). No severe adverse side effect was found regarding lipid profile and kidney or liver markers.”
The authors give a shout out to my hero Dr. Seyfried. Hopefully this is the first of many more studies that can finally move keto from “more research needed” to “proven safe and effective” as a treatment for most cancers. And hopefully before there are more needless deaths.
6 comments