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Glioma is a collective term for tumors that arise from the glial cells in the brain. Astrocytoma, the most common form of glioma, arises from star-shaped cells in the brain called astrocytes. The the survival rate for glioma, including astrocytoma, is low. Findings from a recent study suggest that a ketogenic diet is beneficial for people with astrocytoma.

Ketogenic diets are low in carbohydrates and high in proteins and fats. They cause the body to oxidize fats to produce ketones for energy. For many years, ketogenic diets have been used in the clinical setting to reduce seizures in children. They are currently being investigated for the treatment of cancer because evidence suggests that cancer cells cannot use ketones for energy.

The eight-week intervention study involved 25 people with astrocytoma whose disease was stable following chemotherapy. Participants followed a weekly dietary protocol consisting of five days of a ketogenic diet (consuming 20 grams or less of carbohydrates per day) and two non-consecutive days of fasting (consuming less than 20 percent of their estimated caloric needs). Participants kept food diaries and provided weekly blood and urine for measuring ketones, insulin, glucose, hemoglobin A1c (a measure of long-term blood glucose control), and IGF-1. They underwent brain scans at the beginning and end of the intervention.

About half of the participants adhered to the dietary intervention, which was well-tolerated and elicited few adverse events. Despite the relatively low compliance, all the participants had ketones in their urine, with 80 percent achieving moderate levels. Participants' hemoglobin A1c, insulin, and fat body mass decreased, but their lean body mass increased. No changes were noted in glucose or IGF-1 levels. The brain scans showed that ketone concentrations increased in the brain (including the tumor tissue) and correlated with ketone levels in the urine.

These findings demonstrate that a ketogenic diet is safe for people with astrocytoma and may be beneficial as adjunctive therapy. Learn more about how a ketogenic diet, combined with fasting and the standard of care treatment, may help treat aggressive cancers in this clip featuring Dr. Valter Longo.

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