Ketogenic Diet Results in Metabolic Changes in Astrocytoma

According to a new study published in Neurology, a ketogenic diet may be beneficial for individuals with astrocytomas. Brain scans of 21 of 25 participants who completed the study and followed the diet had metabolic changes in the tumor. The study was not designed to evaluate tumor growth, however, but to evaluate whether treated with radiation and chemotherapy considered the diet safe and feasible.

The primary goal of the study was to observe whether individuals could follow the diet without serious adverse events. Of those who completed the study, 48% followed the diet completely. Urine tests showed that 80% of the individuals’ body was primarily using fats and protein for fuel. By the end of the study, hemoglobin A1c levels, insulin levels, and fat body mass all decreased where lean body mass increased. 

“There are not a lot of effective treatments for these types of brain tumors, and survival rates are low, so any new advances are very welcome,” said study author Roy E. Strowd, MD, MS, MEd, of Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. “These cancer cells rely on glucose, or sugar, to divide and grow. Since the ketogenic diet is low in sugar, the body changes what it uses for energy—instead of carbohydrates, it uses what are called ketones. Normal brain cells can survive on ketones, but the theory is that cancer cells cannot use ketones for energy. Of course, more studies are needed to determine whether this diet can prevent the growth of brain tumors and help people live longer, but these results show that the diet can be safe for people with brain tumors and successfully produce changes in the metabolism of the body and the brain.” 

The individuals in the study followed the diet with intermittent fasting, for 8 weeks and met with a dietician from the beginning of the study and every 2 weeks during. The individuals followed the diet 5 days a week, combining carbohydrate restriction with high amounts of fats. The individuals fasted 2 days out of the week, eating up to 20% of their recommended daily calorie amount.

During the study, 2 individuals had serious side effects, 1 was not related to the diet and 1 was possibly related.