It's crucial to understand that his exteneded survival and ability to avoid any conventional care aside from surgeries rests on a beneficial tumor mutation known as IDH1. This is more common in people who are diagnosed at a younger age. Unfortunately, Pablo died as the result of a brain bleed post resection surgery in the summer of 2024, 10 years after initial diagnosis.
The paper describes one phase of the low carb plan as a carnivore diet. I did not agree with that assessment of his intake during that period of time as it was not exclusively "nose to tail." And I would also have liked more monitoring of glucose and ketones but that is not realistic given the decade time frame.
It makes me think of posts I have seen on social media of individuals having chemotherapy while drinking a sugar ladened cola. If only people knew the damage that's doing to their health.
This study does not mean that keto diets are good for suppressing cancer. Likely, patients who stuck with the KD (only 6) were at baseline more health conscious, had better lifestyle habits, were more affluent, and healthier in general.
Why not talk about Columbia study, showing KD promoted metastatis and raising a potential "health risk of the Keto diet in human patients with cancer."
The keto diet is another terrible destructive medical fad, only to be outdone by carnivore diets.
The body produces its own glucose, along with ketones to provide brain function if you are on a keto diet. The process of creating your own glucose and ketones is very stressful.
This idea that "sugar promotes cancer" is another stale and false truism brought by people who hate carbs and hate sugar.
Matt, there is evidence supporting the use of the keto diet for GBM. In fact, a growing number of neuroconcologists now support the implementation of a ketogenic diet alongside conventional care. And they are seeing positive outcomes here. My guess is that you prefer to focus on one study in an unrelated cancer to generalize that keto is a destructive fad in GBM even though metastases is unlikely in GBM under any conditions. My experience in working with hundreds of clients with GBM points to reasons why people abandon the diet. First and foremost, clinical trials, like this one, randomly assign the diet. This is not ideal: patients who self-select the keto diet are far more likely to stay engaged far beyond the 6 month point, especially if they are tracking food intake and using glucose and ketone data to refine their plan. And yes, it may need initial input from a keto-savvy dietitian or nutrition to individualize the plan. That takes committment and resources beyond what is offered thru conventional care alone but those extra months or years beyond what's expected might be worth the effort...
I don't see how the BACH1 results can be ignored, as they show metastasis much more probable with keto diets. Also, brain cells, including glial cells, function on glucose to the point where they can store glycogen. And although they can function on FAO or glutamine as fuels, this is short term and very stressful and we are not sure how sustainable this is. So on a KD, the brain is going to rely on cells in the brain and elsewhere to create ample glucose and that is the issue I have. That gluconeogenesis is very stressful on the body and I am sure there are much better pathways to fixing cancer.
I don't ignore BACH1 results. I'm just not getting too excited over one or two studies amid the hundreds of studies showing positive results. Also, check out the number of clinical trials on ketogenic diets and/or ketone supplementation.
Gluconeogenesis is normal and natural, using hormone signaling and substrate availability to keep glucose within the normal physiological range. Yes, stress hormones can upregulate gluconeogenic activity and that might be viewed as "very stressful on the body." Some accute stressors, such as exercise, are actually good for the body even though they stimulate stress hormone production, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.
There is an awesome body of research on ketones as a neuroprotective energy source. In GBM, one of the benefits may be due to the protection of normal cells during radiation.
I hate to see all the algorithm-driven super- sensationalized influencer-fueled misinformation/disinformation. Instead, I highly recommend that you look into evidence-based sources, such as the Metabolic Health Initiative.
Signing off as I have important work to do and too few hours to get it done.
I was coauthor on the paper describing the case of the long-term survivor. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.682243/full
It's crucial to understand that his exteneded survival and ability to avoid any conventional care aside from surgeries rests on a beneficial tumor mutation known as IDH1. This is more common in people who are diagnosed at a younger age. Unfortunately, Pablo died as the result of a brain bleed post resection surgery in the summer of 2024, 10 years after initial diagnosis.
thank you so mch, Dr. Kalamian, for your follow up. I am looking at this case study and others too. And sharing with my students.
The paper describes one phase of the low carb plan as a carnivore diet. I did not agree with that assessment of his intake during that period of time as it was not exclusively "nose to tail." And I would also have liked more monitoring of glucose and ketones but that is not realistic given the decade time frame.
It makes me think of posts I have seen on social media of individuals having chemotherapy while drinking a sugar ladened cola. If only people knew the damage that's doing to their health.
This study does not mean that keto diets are good for suppressing cancer. Likely, patients who stuck with the KD (only 6) were at baseline more health conscious, had better lifestyle habits, were more affluent, and healthier in general.
Why not talk about Columbia study, showing KD promoted metastatis and raising a potential "health risk of the Keto diet in human patients with cancer."
The keto diet is another terrible destructive medical fad, only to be outdone by carnivore diets.
The body produces its own glucose, along with ketones to provide brain function if you are on a keto diet. The process of creating your own glucose and ketones is very stressful.
This idea that "sugar promotes cancer" is another stale and false truism brought by people who hate carbs and hate sugar.
Matt, there is evidence supporting the use of the keto diet for GBM. In fact, a growing number of neuroconcologists now support the implementation of a ketogenic diet alongside conventional care. And they are seeing positive outcomes here. My guess is that you prefer to focus on one study in an unrelated cancer to generalize that keto is a destructive fad in GBM even though metastases is unlikely in GBM under any conditions. My experience in working with hundreds of clients with GBM points to reasons why people abandon the diet. First and foremost, clinical trials, like this one, randomly assign the diet. This is not ideal: patients who self-select the keto diet are far more likely to stay engaged far beyond the 6 month point, especially if they are tracking food intake and using glucose and ketone data to refine their plan. And yes, it may need initial input from a keto-savvy dietitian or nutrition to individualize the plan. That takes committment and resources beyond what is offered thru conventional care alone but those extra months or years beyond what's expected might be worth the effort...
I don't see how the BACH1 results can be ignored, as they show metastasis much more probable with keto diets. Also, brain cells, including glial cells, function on glucose to the point where they can store glycogen. And although they can function on FAO or glutamine as fuels, this is short term and very stressful and we are not sure how sustainable this is. So on a KD, the brain is going to rely on cells in the brain and elsewhere to create ample glucose and that is the issue I have. That gluconeogenesis is very stressful on the body and I am sure there are much better pathways to fixing cancer.
I don't ignore BACH1 results. I'm just not getting too excited over one or two studies amid the hundreds of studies showing positive results. Also, check out the number of clinical trials on ketogenic diets and/or ketone supplementation.
Gluconeogenesis is normal and natural, using hormone signaling and substrate availability to keep glucose within the normal physiological range. Yes, stress hormones can upregulate gluconeogenic activity and that might be viewed as "very stressful on the body." Some accute stressors, such as exercise, are actually good for the body even though they stimulate stress hormone production, gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis.
There is an awesome body of research on ketones as a neuroprotective energy source. In GBM, one of the benefits may be due to the protection of normal cells during radiation.
I hate to see all the algorithm-driven super- sensationalized influencer-fueled misinformation/disinformation. Instead, I highly recommend that you look into evidence-based sources, such as the Metabolic Health Initiative.
Signing off as I have important work to do and too few hours to get it done.