Keto diet and breast cancer
Diet is a 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 in most pathologies. Excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugar is associated with an 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫. Conversely, good dietary habits, such as a Mediterranean-style diet and reduced red meat consumption, are associated with a 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫.
A mini-review by an Italian team has suggested that adopting the 𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 in breast cancer patients. Of note, the study mentions a possible inhibitory effect of the ketogenic diet on tumor 𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 and an improved 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. However, 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 specifically studying the relationship between the ketogenic diet and breast cancer are needed to establish a proper link in these patients.
The ketogenic diet favors caloric intake 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐬, while limiting carbohydrates. This enables the body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates to obtain energy. Even though this diet can be beneficial for healthy people and patients suffering from 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬, such as type 2 diabetes or epilepsy, it is not recommended for certain people. Thus, it is best to 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭!