Starve Cancer to Death with the Ketogenic Diet

June 15, 2013

Explained by Thomas N. Seyfried, PhD, Boston College

 

A 65-year-old woman with brain cancer had surgery to remove the tumor, but the operation couldn’t remove it all. The woman started following the ketogenic diet—a diet very high in fat, moderate in protein and very low in carbohydrate. She also had chemotherapy and radiation. After six weeks on the diet, a brain scan showed that the tumor had disappeared. A brain scan five months later showed it was still gone. However, the patient stopped the diet—and a scan three months later showed that the tumor had returned.

 

Yes, a special diet called the ketogenic diet can fight cancer. Here is a video of Dr. Thomas H. Seyfried speaking on manipulating energy metabolism in the body to target cancers.

 

 

This diet is being used to manage brain cancer and advanced (metastatic) cancer, which is when the disease has spread beyond the original tumor to other parts of the body (such as breast cancer that spreads to the liver and bones). It may be effective in fighting most, if not all, cancers, but it must be done under the supervision of an experienced oncological nutritionist.

 

Here, what you need to know about this little-known therapy for cancer…

 

HOW IT WORKS

 

The ketogenic diet is very high in fat—the ratio is four grams of fat to one gram of protein/carbohydrate. It has long been used to control epilepsy and is offered as an epilepsy treatment at hundreds of hospitals and clinics around the world, including The Johns Hopkins Epilepsy Center, Mayo Clinic and Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA.

 

It eases epilepsy by stabilizing neurons (brain cells). It does so by reducing glucose (blood sugar), the main fuel used by neurons, and increasing ketones (beta-hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetic acid), a by-product of fat metabolism used by neurons when glucose levels are low. Reducing glucose and increasing ketones play key roles in fighting cancer as well.

 

The typical American diet is about 50% to 60% carbohydrate (fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, milk and milk products, and added sugars in sweetened foods and beverages). The body turns carbohydrate into glucose, which is used for energy.

 

Cancer cells gorge on glucose. Eating a ketogenic diet deprives them of this primary fuel, starving the cells, which stop growing or die. Also, ketones are a fuel usable by normal cells but not by cancer cells, so this, too, helps stop cancer growth. In addition, the diet…

 

Puts you into a metabolic state similar to that of fasting—and fasting has repeatedly been shown to arrest cancer.

 

Lowers levels of insulin (the glucose-regulating hormone) and insulin-like growth factor—both of which drive tumor growth.

 

CASE HISTORIES

 

The first case report about the ketogenic diet for cancer appeared in Journal of the American College of Nutrition in 1995. The ketogenic diet was used by two children with advanced, inoperable brain cancer who had undergone extensive, life-threatening radiation and chemotherapy. They both responded remarkably well to the diet.

 

A case report that I coauthored, published in Nutrition & Metabolism in 2010, told the story (see beginning of this article) of the 65-year-old woman with glioblastoma multiforme—the most common and most aggressive type of brain tumor, with a median survival of only about 12 months after diagnosis. Standard treatment—surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, plus radiation and/or chemotherapy—extends average survival time only a few months beyond that of people who aren’t treated.

 

My viewpoint: In animal research, the ketogenic diet is the only therapeutic approach that deprives tumors of their primary fuel…stops tumor cells from invading other areas…stops the process of angiogenesis (blood supply to tumors)…and reduces inflammation, which drives cancer. The diet also could reduce the need for anticonvulsant and anti-inflammatory medications in brain cancer patients.

 

Considering how ineffective the current standard of care is for brain cancer (and for metastatic cancer), the ketogenic diet could be an attractive option for many cancer patients.

 

WORKING WITH AN EXPERT

 

The ketogenic diet for cancer is not a diet you should undertake on your own after reading a book or other self-help materials. It requires the assistance of an oncological nutritionist or other health professional who is familiar with the use of the regimen in cancer patients. Ask your oncologist for a referral.

 

Important aspects of the ketogenic diet include…

 

• Measuring glucose and ketone levels. For the management of cancer, blood glucose levels should fall between 55 mg/dL and 65 mg/dL, and ketone levels between 3 mmol and 5 mmol. In order to monitor those levels—and adjust your diet accordingly—you need to use methods similar to those used by patients with diabetes. These methods include glucose testing several times a day with a finger stick and glucose strip…daily urine testing for ketones…and (more accurate) home blood testing for ketones, perhaps done weekly.

• Starting with a water-only fast. If you are in relatively good health (aside from the cancer, of course), it is best to start the ketogenic diet with a water-only fast for 48 to 72 hours, which will quickly put you in ketosis—the production of a therapeutic level of ketones. This fast should be guided by a health professional.
  
  If you are fragile or in poor health, you can skip the water fast and initiate ketosis with the ketogenic diet, reducing carbohydrates to less than 12 grams a day. This should produce ketosis within two or three weeks.

• Macronutrient ratios and recipes. Working with a nutritionist, you will find the fat/protein/carbohydrate ratio that works best for you to lower glucose and increase ketones…and the recipes and meal plan that consistently deliver those ratios. A food diary, a food scale and the use of a “KetoCalculator” (available on Web sites such as KetoCalculator.com/ketocalc/diet.asp) are necessary tools to implement the ketogenic diet.
  
  Helpful: The oncological nutritionist Miriam Kalamian, EdM, MS, CNS, managed her own son’s brain tumor with the ketogenic diet, and she counsels cancer patients around the world in the implementation of the diet. You can find more information on her Web site, DietaryTherapies.com.

CLINICAL TRIALS

Currently, there are several clinical trials being conducted using the ketogenic diet for cancer.

• Brain cancer. There are trials at Michigan State University and in Germany and Israel testing the diet’s efficacy as a complementary treatment with radiation for recurrent glioblastoma…and by itself to improve the quality of life and survival time in patients with brain cancer. Michigan State University currently is recruiting patients for its trial. Contact: Ken Schwartz, MD, 517-975-9500, e-mail: ken.schwartz@ht.msu.edu.

• Pancreatic cancer. A trial at Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Iowa is recruiting patients with pancreatic cancer for a trial using the ketogenic diet along with radiation and chemotherapy. Contact: Jane Hershberger, RN, BSN, 319-384-7912, e-mail: jane-hershberger@uiowa.edu.

• Lung cancer. The University of Iowa also is recruiting lung cancer patients for a similar trial. The contact information is the same as for the trial on pancreatic cancer.

• Metastatic cancer. The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is recruiting patients with metastatic cancer for a study of the effect of the ketogenic diet on quality of life, tumor growth and survival. Contact: Jocelyn Tan, MD, 412-360-6178, e-mail: jocelyn.tan@va.gov.


You can find out more about these trials at ClinicalTrials.gov. Enter “Ketogenic Diet” into the search engine at the site for a complete listing of cancer trials and trials testing the ketogenic diet for other conditions, including epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Lafora disease (a severe neurological disease), Parkinson’s disease and obesity.



CAN THE DIET PREVENT CANCER?


Cancer survivors and people with a family history of cancer may wonder if they should go on the ketogenic diet as a preventive measure. It is not necessary for people to follow the diet if they do not have cancer. A six-to-seven-day water-only fast done once or twice a year—under a doctor’s supervision—can be effective in reducing the risk for recurrent cancer in survivors and in those individuals with a family history of cancer. Fasting reduces glucose and elevates ketones.

Source: Thomas N. Seyfried, PhD, a professor of biology at Boston College and author of Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: On the Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer (Wiley). His numerous scientific articles have appeared in Nature Medicine, Science, The Lancet Oncology, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Oncology, Cancer Letters, Journal of Neurochemistry and many other medical and scientific journals.

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/starve-cancer-to-death-with-the-ketogenic-diet?


Also read Dr Mercola's article on:   

Ketogenic Diet in Combination with Calorie Restriction and Hyperbaric Treatment Offer New Hope in Quest for Non-Toxic Cancer Treatment         

The Best Way to Prevent Diabetes—No Drugs Needed

September 5, 2013

If your doctor ever tells you (or has already told you) that you have prediabetes, you’d be wise to consider it a serious red flag. It means that your blood sugar level is higher than normal—though not yet quite high enough to be classified as diabetes—because your pancreas isn’t making enough insulin and/or your cells have become resistant to the action of insulin.

A whopping 35% of American adults now have prediabetes. Nearly one-third of them will go on to develop full-blown diabetes, with all its attendant risks for cardiovascular problems, kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness, amputation and death.

That’s why researchers have been working hard to figure out the best way to keep prediabetes from progressing to diabetes.

And according to an encouraging new study, one particular approach involving some fairly quick action has emerged as the winner—slashing prediabetic patients’ risk for diabetes by an impressive 85%…without relying on drugs.

 

NEW LOOK AT THE NUMBERS

The new study draws on data from the national Diabetes Prevention Program, the largest diabetes prevention study in the US, which began back in 1996. The program included 3,041 adults who had prediabetes and were at least somewhat overweight.

Participants were randomly divided into three groups. One group was given a twice-daily oral placebo and general lifestyle modification recommendations about the importance of healthful eating, losing weight and exercising. A second group was given twice-daily oral metformin (a drug that prevents the liver from producing too much glucose) and those same lifestyle recommendations. The third group was enrolled in an intensive lifestyle-modification program, with the goal of losing at least 7% of their body weight and exercising at moderate intensity for at least 150 minutes each week.

The original analysis of the data, done after 3.2 years, showed that intensive lifestyle modification reduced diabetes risk by 58% and metformin use reduced diabetes risk by 31%, as compared with the placebo group.

Updated analysis: Researchers wanted to know whether those odds could be improved even further, so they did a new analysis, this time looking specifically at what happened in the first six months after prediabetes patients began treatment and then following up for 10 years. What they found…

* At the six-month mark, almost everyone (92%) in the intensive lifestyle-modification group had lost weight…while more than 25% in the metformin group (and nearly 50% in the placebo group) had gained weight. The average percentage of body weight lost in each group was 7.2% in the lifestyle group…2.4% in the metformin group…and 0.4% in the placebo group. Ten years later, most of those in the lifestyle group had maintained their substantial weight loss—quite an accomplishment, given how common it is for lost pounds to be regained.

* In the intensive lifestyle-modification group, those who lost 10% or more of their body weight in the first six months reduced their diabetes risk by an impressive 85%. But even those who fell short of the 7% weight-loss goal benefited. For instance, those who lost 5% to 6.9% of their body weight reduced their risk by 54%...and those who lost just 3% to 4.9% reduced their risk by 38%.

If you have prediabetes: Don’t assume that diabetes is an inevitable part of your future…and don't assume that you necessarily have to take drugs. By taking action now, you can greatly reduce your risk of developing this deadly disease. So talk with your doctor about joining a program designed to help people with prediabetes adopt healthful dietary and exercise habits that will promote safe, speedy and permanent weight loss. Ask your doctor or health insurer for a referral…or click here to find a YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program near you.

Source: Nisa M. Maruthur, MD, assistant professor of medicine, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, both in Baltimore. Her study was published in Journal of General Internal Medicine.

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/the-best-way-to-prevent-diabetes-no-drugs-needed

Are You Getting the Most from Your Blood Tests?

September 1, 2013

Even doctors may miss signs of health problems.

 

Unless your doctor tells you there’s a problem, you may not give much thought to the blood tests that you receive periodically.

 

But standard blood tests and certain other blood tests that you may request from your doctor can offer valuable—even lifesaving—clues about your health, including explanations for such vexing conditions as short-term memory loss and fatigue.

 

What you may not realize: If your doctor says that your test results are “normal,” this is not the same as “optimal” or even “good.”

 

For example, a total cholesterol reading of 200 mg/dL is considered normal, even though the risk of developing heart disease is sometimes higher at this level than it would be if your numbers were lower. Always ask your doctor what your target should be.

 

Blood test results that you should definitely make note of—and certain tests you may want to request…*

 

 

• Low potassium. Low potassium (hypokalemia) is worrisome because it can cause fatigue, constipation and general weakness, along with heart palpitations.

 

Causes: An imbalance of the hormone insulin often causes low potassium. It also can be due to problems with the adrenal glands or a loss of fluids from vomiting and/or diarrhea. A magnesium deficiency or a high-sodium diet can lead to low potassium, too. It is also a common side effect of certain medications, including diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide…laxatives…and some asthma drugs, such as albuterol.

 

Normal potassium: 3.6 mEq/L to 5.2 mEq/L. Optimal potassium: 4.5 mEq/L to 5.2 mEq/L.

 

What to do: If your potassium is not optimal, your doctor will probably recommend that you eat more potassium-rich foods, such as fruits (bananas, oranges, cantaloupe)…vegetables (tomatoes, sweet potatoes)…and whole grains (quinoa, buckwheat). You’ll also be advised to reduce your sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg daily—high sodium depletes potassium from the body. Additionally, you may be advised to take a magnesium and potassium supplement.

 

Also: Keep your stress level low. Chronic stress can lead to a high level of the hormone cortisol—this can overwhelm the adrenal glands and lead to low potassium.

 

 

• “Normal” glucose. Most people know that high blood glucose (126 mg/dL or above) is a warning sign of diabetes. But you may not be aware that slight increases in blood sugar—even when it is still within the so-called normal range—also put you at greater risk.

 

Surprising: Among 46,000 people who were tracked for 10 years, for every one-point rise in fasting blood glucose over 84 mg/dL, the risk of developing diabetes increased by about 6%. Vascular and kidney damage may begin when glucose reaches 90 mg/dL—a level that’s within the normal range.

 

Causes: High blood glucose usually occurs when the body’s cells become resistant to the hormone insulin and/or when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. Obesity and genetic factors are among the main causes.

 

Normal glucose: 65 mg/dL to 99 mg/dL. Optimal glucose: 70 mg/dL to 84 mg/dL.

 

What to do: If your fasting glucose isn’t optimal or if tests show that it’s rising, try to get the numbers down with regular exercise, weight loss and a healthier diet.

 

Powerful spice: Add one-quarter teaspoon of cinnamon to your food each day. People who take this small dose can lower their blood glucose by 18% to 29%.

 

Alternative: A standardized cinnamon extract in capsule form (125 mg to 250 mg, two to three times daily).

 

 

• High homocysteine. Most doctors recommend a homocysteine test only for patients with existing heart problems. Everyone should get it. High homocysteine may damage arteries and increase the risk for heart disease and stroke.

 

Causes: Homocysteine rises if you don’t get enough B-complex vitamins or if you’re unable to properly metabolize methionine, an amino acid that’s mainly found in meat, fish and dairy. Vegetarians tend to have higher homocysteine levels. Other causes include a lack of exercise, chronic stress, smoking and too much caffeine.

 

Normal homocysteine: Less than 15 umol/L. Optimal homocysteine: 8 umol/L or below.

What to do: If your homocysteine level isn’t optimal, take a daily B-complex vitamin supplement that has at least 50 mg of vitamin B-6.

 

Also helpful: A fish oil supplement to reduce inflammation and protect the arteries. Take 1,000 mg, two to three times daily.**

 

 

• Low DHEA. This is a hormone that’s used by the body to manufacture both testosterone and estrogen. It’s also an antioxidant that supports the immune system and increases insulin sensitivity and the body’s ability to metabolize fats. DHEA is not usually measured in standard blood tests, but all adults should request that their levels be tested.

 

Low DHEA is a common cause of fatigue, weight gain, depression and decreased libido in men and women of all ages. Over time, it can damage the hippocampus, the “memory center” of the brain.

 

Causes: It’s normal for DHEA to slightly decrease with age. Larger deficiencies can indicate an autoimmune disease (such as rheumatoid arthritis) or chronic stress.

 

Normal DHEA: Levels of this hormone peak in one’s late 20s. Normal levels vary widely with age and gender. Optimal DHEA: The high end of the normal range is optimal—it reflects a reserve of DHEA. Examples: 200 mcg/dL to 270 mcg/dL for men…and 120 mcg/dL to 180 mcg/dL for women.

 

What to do: If your DHEA level isn’t optimal, managing emotional stress is critical. Get at least eight hours of sleep every night…exercise aerobically for about 30 minutes, three to four times a week…and practice relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation.

 

Also helpful: A daily supplement (25 mg to 50 mg) of DHEA. If you take this supplement, do so only under a doctor’s supervision—you’ll need regular blood tests to ensure that your DHEA level doesn’t get too high.

 

 

• High LDL-P (LDL particle number). Traditional cholesterol tests look only at triglycerides and total LDL and HDL cholesterol. I advise patients to get a fractionated cholesterol test for a more detailed picture.

 

Important: Patients with a large number of small LDL particles have an elevated risk for a heart attack even if their overall LDL level is normal. The greater the number of these cholesterol particles, the more likely they are to lodge in the lining of blood vessels and eventually trigger a heart attack.

 

Causes: Genetics is partly responsible for high LDL and LDL-P. A poor reading can be due to metabolic syndrome, a group of factors that includes abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides and high blood pressure. A diet high in animal fats and processed foods also can cause an increase in LDL-P.

 

Normal LDL-P: Less than 1,300 nmol/L. Optimal LDL-P: Below 1,000 nmol/L on an NMR lipoprofile (this test is the most accurate).

 

What to do: If your LDL-P level is not optimal (and you have not had a coronary event), I recommend exercise…weight loss…blood pressure and blood sugar management…more antioxidant-rich foods such as vegetables, berries and legumes…and three to five cups of green tea daily—it’s a potent antioxidant that minimizes the oxidation of cholesterol molecules, which is important for reducing heart attacks.

 

Also: Daily supplements of bergamot extract, which has been shown to change the size of cholesterol particles (Earl Grey tea, which is flavored with oil of bergamot, provides a less potent dose)…and aged garlic extract, which has a beneficial effect on multiple cardiovascular risk factors. If these steps do not sufficiently improve your LDL-P level, talk to your doctor about taking a statin and/or niacin.

 

*These blood tests typically are covered by health insurance.

 

**Check with your doctor before using fish oil, especially if you take a blood thinner—fish oil can interact with it and certain other medications.

 

Source: James B. LaValle, RPh, CCN, a clinical pharmacist, nutritionist and founder of LaValle Metabolic Institute, an integrated-care practice in Cincinnati. He is the author of Your Blood Never Lies: How to Read a Blood Test for a Longer, Healthier Life (Square One). JimLaValle.com

http://www.bottomlinepublications.com/content/article/health-a-healing/are-you-getting-the-most-from-your-blood-tests