Latest news with #ketogenicdiet
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Just Linked the Keto Diet with Higher Cancer Risk—Here's What to Know
Key Points The ketogenic diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet often used for weight loss. This study suggests the keto diet may increase the risk of all cancers. Following an anti-inflammatory diet may help reduce the risk of cancer by lowering disease still holds the top spot for causes of death in the U.S., but cancer isn't far behind, with each condition claiming the lives of over 600,000 Americans every year. And while researchers are more certain about how to prevent heart disease through lifestyle changes, cancer remains a bit more elusive. Scientists are continually searching for ways to prevent cancer and increase survival rates for those with the disease. Researchers from China analyzed data from a long-running U.S. survey called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 2001 and 2018. They wanted to know what association, if any, exists between a ketogenic diet and cancer. They published their findings in Nutrition and Cancer—let's break down what they found. How Was This Study Conducted? For this analysis, almost 44,000 participants from the NHANES met the researchers' criteria. The participants were fairly evenly split between genders, but did skew slightly more female. Participants were at least 20 years of age. All the data were self-reported, including history of cancer, dietary information and demographics. To determine if a participant had a history of cancer, they answered yes or no to the question, 'Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had cancer or a malignancy of any kind?' Dietary intake was calculated using the average of two 24-hour dietary recalls, which researchers used to calculate each participant's dietary ketogenic ratio (DKR). The DKR is a calculation that indicates the likelihood of someone entering ketosis based on their macronutrient ratio. Ketosis occurs when carbohydrates, the body's preferred source of energy, are not available. In this case, the body turns to fat as an energy source, and then the liver converts fat into ketone bodies, which can also be used as an energy source. Based on their DKRs, participants were placed into one of four quartiles, with Q4 having the highest DKRs and Q1 having the lowest. Demographics that would be adjusted for during statistical analyses included age, sex, ethnicity, income and education levels, marital status, BMI, smoking status and medical history. What Did This Study Find? Researchers found that as DKR increased, so did the risk of cancer. But not just one or two types of cancer—all cancers. In other words, they found a significant association between the keto diet and the risk of developing cancer. While these study authors note that there are likely some short-term benefits of a keto diet, the long-term risks may outweigh the benefits. Why keto may raise cancer risk needs to be explored further, but researchers provide a few possible explanations. First, they note that ketones have been implicated in increasing oxidative stress, causing cellular damage, which increases the risk of developing cancer. They also point out that while cancer cells typically prefer to use glucose as an energy source, research suggests that some cancer cells can utilize ketones as an alternative energy source to survive and proliferate. In addition to these findings, these researchers also found that as the degree of ketosis increased, there was a notable decline in the antioxidant properties of vitamins A, C, and E, as well as trace elements such as manganese, zinc, and selenium. This aligns with numerous studies that have consistently shown deficiencies in antioxidant vitamins and trace elements can substantially increase the risk of all cancers. One significant limitation of this study is that participants' ketosis levels were not directly measured with bloodwork. Also, information was all self-reported, which leaves room for error and bias. This includes cancer diagnoses, which might have been more accurate had they used participants' medical records. How Does This Apply to Real Life? While a ketogenic diet does have some legitimate medical uses—like reducing seizures in children with epilepsy—beyond that, it's mainly used to lose weight. The problem is following it long-term—let's face it, one can only eat so much cheese and bacon. And while all foods can fit into a healthy eating pattern, it's important to eat a variety of foods to ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs. Though this study can't say that a keto diet causes cancer, based on this data, there appears to be a strong connection between the two, and more research should be done. Since we know there's also a correlation between chronic inflammation and cancer, eating an anti-inflammatory diet may help reduce cancer risk. An anti-inflammatory diet focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. Besides eating a varied, balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight, the American Cancer Society recommends engaging in regular physical activity, managing your stressors, getting plenty of quality sleep, avoiding or limiting alcohol and not smoking to help lower your cancer risk. Our Expert Take This study suggests a connection between the ketogenic diet and cancer risk. While keto may help you lose weight, the risks may outweigh the benefits. If you feel better reducing carbs, there are healthier and more moderate ways to do so that don't go to keto extremes. To get started, choose from our low-carb, high-protein dinners that come together in just 30 minutes or our high-protein, low-carb breakfasts to help you lose weight. If cancer prevention is top of mind, taking a holistic approach may not only help prevent cancer but also other diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and healthy fats in your diet. In addition, move your body often, deal with what's stressing you out, get enough quality sleep and spend time with loved ones. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Medscape
09-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Keto vs Mediterranean Diet: Is One Better for Weight Loss?
TOPLINE: In adults with obesity, following a calorie-restricted ketogenic diet, modified alternate-day fasting, or late time-restricted eating led to a greater weight loss than following the Mediterranean diet over 3 months, with the ketogenic diet yielding the best outcomes. METHODOLOGY: Ketone-producing dietary approaches such as the ketogenic diet, time-restricted eating, and modified alternate-day fasting show promise for weight loss, but evidence comparing them to the Mediterranean diet remains limited. Researchers conducted a trial to compare the effects of a ketogenic diet (very low-carb and high-fat diet), early and late time-restricted eating (eating windows of 8 AM to 4 PM and 2 PM to 10 PM, respectively), and alternate-day fasting diets (only 4 days per week of normal eating) vs the Mediterranean diet on body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors. They randomly assigned 160 adults with obesity (mean age, 45.7 years; mean BMI, 38.4; 70.6% women) to one of five groups: Mediterranean diet (control), ketogenic diet, early time-restricted eating, late time-restricted eating, or modified alternate-day fasting groups. All diets were calorie-restricted, with personalized meal plans of 1800 kcal/d for men and 1400 kcal/d for women, aiming for an energy deficit of 600 kcal/d on the basis of estimated energy requirements. The primary outcome was differences in weight loss from baseline to 3 months between the Mediterranean diet group and each intervention group. TAKEAWAY: At 3 months, the greatest difference in weight loss was between the control and ketogenic diet groups (mean difference [MD], -3.78 kg; 95% CI, -5.65 to -1.91 kg), followed by the difference between the control and modified alternate-day fasting groups (MD, -3.14 kg; 95% CI, -4.98 to -1.30 kg). Similarly, compared with the control group, the late time-restricted eating group showed a significant weight-loss difference (MD, -2.27 kg; 95% CI, -4.13 to -0.40 kg) at 3 months, but the early time-restricted eating group didn't. Greater reductions in body fat mass were observed in the early time-restricted eating and modified alternate-day fasting groups compared with the control group. No significant differences in fasting glucose levels, lipid profiles, or blood pressure were found between the control and intervention groups at 3 months. IN PRACTICE: 'A calorie-restricted KD [ketogenic diet], mADF [modified alternate day fasting], or lTRE [late time-restricted eating] may be more effective than a calorie-restricted MedDiet [Mediterranean diet] in terms of weight loss in patients with obesity,' the authors of the study wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by José Ignacio Martínez-Montoro and Borja Bandera, Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital, Málaga, Spain. It was published online in BMC Medicine. LIMITATIONS: This study assessed body weight and cardiometabolic outcomes only over a short 3-month period, and different findings might have been observed with longer follow-up. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, which is less precise than dual x-ray absorptiometry. Additionally, the findings cannot be generalized to other populations, including patients with diabetes and people from other races or ethnicities. DISCLOSURES: This study received grant support from Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Some authors reported receiving research support from various sources. None of the authors disclosed any competing interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
CBC
22-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Whitehorse teen marks 10 year seizure-free — thanks to her diet, says mother
Fourteen-year-old Jade Pealow celebrated a major milestone this week in Whitehorse: ten years seizure-free. Jade has epilepsy, and her mom, Fawn Fritzen, credits a strict ketogenic diet when Jade was younger for helping reach this milestone. Jade was only two years old when she started having seizures but she doesn't remember them. But Fritzen remembers them well. "Besides watching your child suffer, which is awful for any parent, the worst part of it was the not knowing — not knowing if we were going to be able to help, if we were going to find something that was going to heal her brain," Fritzen recalled. "Because she went from a real typical toddler to being completely incapacitated." Frtizen says Jade would have seizures often, sometimes injuring herself. Fritzen said medications would make her daughter slow and foggy. "It was devastating to watch her go from this bright, energetic fun-loving kid, to a child we had to keep in a playpen a lot of the time, just to keep her safe," Fritzen said. The family then consulted with their doctor and decided to try the ketogenic diet. It's a high-fat, carbohydrate-controlled protein diet. According to the Canadian Epilepsy Alliance, it is one of the oldest forms of medical treatment for epilepsy. 5 years on strict diet Jade's family worked with the neurology team at BC Children's Hospital to guide her diet. Jade remained on the ketogenic diet for five years before transitioning to a more "normal" diet in 2014. "A typical meal would look like a tiny plate of food, because the calories are so concentrated — and most of it is fat, so she might get a tiny bit of chicken and that would be her protein," Fritzen recalls. "She would have a tablespoon of coconut oil." Sometimes Jade would have a small smoothie with almond milk or coconut milk with canola oil mixed in. She would also get a few raspberries or watermelon. "I remember a real heartbreaking moment where she asked me if she could have a banana. Bananas are very high in carbohydrates so I had to say no," Fritzen said. Jade was devastated. "When a child asks for a banana snack, that is such a reasonable request from a toddler." Fritzen said after a few months on the diet, it became her daughter's "new normal." Fritzen says Jade's dad Michael Pealow, plus friends and family, played a big part in helping Jade reach her latest milestone. "Now she is a sunny, loving, bright, and happy young person, full of fun, and unconcerned about her challenging past," Fritzen says, calling her daughter the "miracle girl." The next major milestone on the horizon will be in 2024, when Jade will have been off the strict ketogenic diet for 10 years. If she is still seizure-free at that point, Fritzen says her epilepsy will be considered medically "resolved," though she will always belong to a population considered to be at higher risk for seizures. Jade's favourite food now that she doesn't have to watch the carbs is spaghetti, and this week she celebrated with another high-carb favourite — cake.
