Can a keto diet help treat brain cancer?

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Can a keto diet help treat brain cancer? - the evidence

This guide is written by Anne Mullens and was last updated on June 17, 2022. It was medically reviewed by Dr. Michael Tamber, MD on February 3, 2022.

The guide contains scientific references. You can find these in the notes throughout the text, and click the links to read the peer-reviewed scientific papers. When appropriate we include a grading of the strength of the evidence, with a link to our policy on this. Our evidence-based guides are updated at least once per year to reflect and reference the latest science on the topic.

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  1. The New York Times: Glioblastoma, John McCain’s Form of Brain Cancer, Carries Troubling Prognosis

  2. We would qualify her comment by saying, since GBM has a very poor prognosis with current standard care, and there is little risk of complication from nutritional therapy, then it seems reasonable to try a ketogenic diet with supervision and support.

  3. Clinical Nutrition 2019: Treatment of malignant gliomas with ketogenic or caloric restricted diets: A systematic review of preclinical and early clinical studies [very weak evidence]

  4. Journal of Oncological Sciences 2017: Biology of glucose metabolization in cancer cells [overview article; ungraded]

    Cell Metabolism 2016: The Emerging Hallmarks of Cancer Metabolism [overview article; ungraded]

  5. Proceedings 2005:
    Use of PET/CT scanning in cancer patients: technical and practical considerations
    [overview article; ungraded]

  6. Journal of Clinical Investigations 2013: Glutamine and cancer: cell biology, physiology, and clinical opportunities[overview article; ungraded]

  7. Carcinogenesis 2014: Cancer As a Metabolic Disease: Implications for Novel Therapeutics [overview article; ungraded]

  8. The researchers recommend a ketogenic diet restricted to between 1000 and 1500 daily calories based on a weight loss not to exceed 20%. The diet also severely restricts carbohydrates to achieve a blood glucose of 50 to 65 mg/dL and plasma ketone levels of 2 to 4 mmol/L (a much lower glucose level and higher level of ketones than achieved with a traditional ad lib ketogenic diet)

    Surgical Neurology Interventions 2015: The role of metabolic therapy in treating glioblastoma multiforme. [overview article; ungraded]

  9. Nutrition & Metabolism 2017: Press-Pulse: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy for the Metabolic Management of Cancer [overview article; ungraded]

  10. This is based on hypotheses generated from animal studies and remains to be proven in human clinical trials. [very weak evidence]

  11. These are anecdotal reports, not based on scientific studies. [very weak evidence]

  12. Photo credits: Brian Buchsdruecker

  13. Adam’s Got Swag: CTV National News Covers Ketogenic Diet

  14. CISION: World-Renowned Neurologist Recruited to Calgary!