According to a study published in Neurology, American Academy of Neurology’s medical journal, a modified ketogenic diet may be safe and effective for individuals suffering from astrocytomas or brain tumors. The following paragraphs detail the study’s findings.
A total of 25 patients with astrocytomas were included in the study. For eight weeks, the participants followed a variant of the ketogenic diet, the modified Atkins diet, combined with intermittent fasting. Heavy cream, eggs, bacon, and fatty seafood were the main staples in the participants’ diet. At the outset of the trial, the subjects met with an expert dietitian who they would then see every two weeks after that. The test patients followed a modified Atkins diet five days per week, combining a carbohydrate restriction with a high fat intake. They also fasted for two days per week, consuming a maximum of 20% of their recommended daily calorie intake.
The study’s primary purpose was to test if patients could stick to the diet without experiencing any serious adverse effects. According to the food records, 48% of those who finished the research followed the diet to the letter. However, urine testing revealed that 80% of the patients had reached a point where their bodies burned fats and protein rather than carbohydrates for energy. Overall, the diet was well-tolerated. However, two patients experienced notable adverse effects during the trial, one of which was not related to the diet.
The researchers discovered modifications in the body and brain metabolism of the test subjects. Furthermore, lean body mass increased, whereas fat body mass, insulin levels, and hemoglobin A1C levels decreased. In addition, a rise in metabolic alterations and ketone concentration in the tumor was discovered using specialized brain scans that identify changes in brain metabolites.
According to Roy E. Strowd, the study’s lead author, more research is required to see if the keto diet can help people live longer by preventing the growth of brain tumors. In addition, it’s worth noting that team members had a lot of interaction with the participants during the study, which may not be possible in standard clinical care or during a more extensive study experiment.
