A ketogenic diet may have potentially serious side effects when used for cancer treatment, although incorporating a specific medication may effectively reverse those side effects, according to a recent study.
Potential Side Effects of the Ketogenic Diet for Cancer Treatment
The principle behind using the ketogenic diet for cancer treatment is that it switches the body’s energy source to ketones from glucose. This metabolic shift aims to deprive cancer cells of their fuel, as they can’t utilize ketones and would have limited access to glucose. However, the actual effects and safety of the ketogenic diet for cancer treatment are still being studied.A study published in Cell Metabolism in June found that improper implementation of the ketogenic diet during cancer treatment could lead to an earlier onset of cachexia, a wasting syndrome associated with cancer.
