Cancer cells feed on sugar. One of the means of slowing down their progression would be to deprive them of this “fuel”, by following a particular diet.
Well supervised and alongside conventional cancer treatments, the ketogenic dietextremely low in sugars and high in fats, would have beneficial effects on cancer progression. Why do cancer cells love sugar? What are the benefits of a ketogenic diet? On which cancers is it effective? How to set it up safely? Interview with Magali Walkowicz, dietician-nutritionist and author of the book cancer loves sugar (Editions Thierry Souccar).
Le Journal des Femmes: Is it true that sugar feeds cancer cells?
Magali Walkowicz:
The link between sugar consumption and cancer has long been known. He is the German biologist Otto Heinrich Warburg who discovered that cancer cells fed mainly on sugar. He received the Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1931. Since then, several studies have shown a clear link between spike in blood sugar, spikes in insulin following spikes in blood sugarand cancer cell growth. This discovery is also used to detect cancer cells: for example, the PET scanone of the most widely used examinations to detect tumours, is based on the craving of cancer cells for sugar.
Like any other cell in the body, to live, a cancer cell needs energy. But unlike healthy cells that can easily feed on different sources of energy (sugar, protein, fat), many cancerous cells can only feed on sugar in the first place. So yes, it is true that cancer cells need sugar and given their particular way of using it, many more sugars than healthy cells to feed themselves. And at the same time, they have the power to divert sugar to healthy cells, which are therefore more easily weakened in the event of cancer. In other words, if you have cancer, the sugar you are going to eat will primarily serve to feed the cancer cells.
How does the ketogenic diet work on cancer?
Normally, the cells of our body feed on glucose (sugars). The food that allowshave the least spike in blood sugar East the ketogenic diet. By following the principles of this diet, extremely low in sugar and high in fat, we will modify the “fuel” of our cells and make sure that they no longer feed on glucose but of fats metabolized into ketone bodies, substances produced once there is no more glucose available. And for the organization to agree to make this change, drastically reduce all sugars in the diet.
In other words, there must no longer be enough sugars entering the body. We keep a normal protein intake, without exaggeration because certain components of proteins (glutamine amino acids) can also serve as fuel for cancer cells, but fat intake is significantly increased.
In addition, a ketogenic diet has a power anti-angiogenicthat is to say, it participates in prevent/slow down the vascularization of cancer cells. Angiogenesis is the moment when defective cells manage to vascularize and become cancerous. It must also be said that, of course, the ketogenic diet is an axis of care that has a real interest alongside standard cancer treatments. But it does not represent not a miracle cure on its own cancer.
On which cancers is this diet particularly effective?
The ketogenic diet has beneficial effects on all types of cancer. I see a particularly interesting benefit on thepancreatic cancer Or on brain tumors. There are also very good results on hormone-dependent cancers as breast cancer or cancer of the prostate. But for these two cancers, the ketogenic diet is suitable (removal of dairy products for example).
A particularly interesting benefit on pancreatic cancer or brain tumours.
However, for safety, I do not prefer to implement a ketogenic diet in a patient with leukemia because this diet may not be suitable for him. Furthermore, the ketogenic diet reduces the side effects of conventional treatments cancer like chemotherapy or radiotherapy. It also allows better healing during a mastectomy for example or other surgical procedures. Also, patients on a ketogenic diet tend to respond better to treatment and faster, compared to patients who do not watch their diet. The ketogenic diet also has psychological benefits. First, because they are patients who are in action and who have control over the disease. Second, because one of the fat-metabolized ketone bodies has a euphoric effect.
Can the ketogenic diet be effective in preventing cancer?
Yes, it is relevant in prevention because we know that cancers rather develop on an inflammatory ground. A high consumption of carbohydrates maintains the low-grade inflammations which are the bed of cancers. Low-grade inflammations are inflammatory reactions without clinical signs, recognized as risk markers for many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, depression, etc.
Should we completely banish sugar?
It needs to be reduced drastically. Completely suppressing the supply of glucose to cancer cells is impossible. Even when following a ketogenic diet, there is still some glucose circulating in the blood that can be used by cancer cells. Even if you don’t eat any sugary foods, there is sugar in almost all foods, even vegetables. The idea is to prefer meat, fish and eggs as well as oils and oilseeds, which provide good fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E. Well framed and intelligently monitored, a ketogenic diet does not cause any deficiencies. A magnesium supplementation may be needed at the start of the diet because the body rejects more electrolytes.
How can people with cancer implement a ketogenic diet?
In the context of an illness, the establishment of a ketogenic diet requires support with a healthcare professional. The diet is adapted according to the disease, the tastes and the food culture of the patient and can be very different from one patient to another. I recommend at least one consultation with a health professional. Once you have the basics down, it’s not a very difficult diet to put into practice.
Afterwards, you have to apply the principles of the ketogenic diet at once and not gradually. So that the body is in ketosis (metabolic state during which the body draws its energy from fat, thanks to ketone bodies), there are no half measures. But generally, a sick person is rather conciliatory and willingly accepts the elimination of carbohydrates, insofar as he has understood that carbohydrates are a fuel for his cancerous cells. At most, the first week can be a little difficult, but overall it’s going well.