Thomas Seyfried and Metabolic Therapy for Cancer
The Ketogenic Diet or 'Metabolic Therapy'
Commonly accepted medical wisdom is that cancer is caused by genetic mutations and that these mutations are out of the individual's control. However strong evidence is emerging that individuals with metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes are at increased risk of cancer.
As far back as the 1920's Otto Warburg observed that the majority of cancer cells obtain their energy through glycolysis, meaning they ferment glucose, creating lactic acid and leading to the acidic cancer environment. Dr. Thomas Seyfried from Yale University and Boston College rediscovered Warburg's original work and in 2012 published his theory that most cancers, have a metabolic origin.
The ketogenic diet has been used to manage children with epilepsy for a number of years, it requires a considerable reduction in dietary carbohydrates and protein, with a significant increase in healthy fats. The application of the ketogenic diet in cancer aims to 'starve' the cancer cells, as healthy cells can use fat as an energy source, but cancer cells cannot, leaving them unable to obtain the energy they need to survive and grow.
The promising news is that adopting a ketogenic diet, is for most people, completely complementary to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and surgical interventions.
That being said, the ketogenic diet may not be for everyone, it can be difficult to implement and the restrictive nature of the diet can lead to increased stress - the last thing needed during cancer treatment. Furthermore safety must always be the number one priority, by using personalised nutrition support we can ensure any new dietary regime would work with a person's individual lifestyle and their medical treatment plan.
"Using a personalised approach, means acknowledging that each person and their cancer is unique"
The Ketogenic Diet and Glioblastoma Multiforme
Strongest Evidence of Survival
Glioblastoma Multiforme is an aggressive and fast-growing form of brain cancer that is notoriously difficult to treat. Sadly, the 5-year survival rate is extremely low, around 5% to 7%, with most patients living only 12 to 18 months after diagnosis, even with intensive treatment.
However, a recently published study by researchers in Greece, with contributions from Thomas Seyfried, offers promising insights into the potential benefits of a ketogenic diet for glioblastoma patients.
The study followed 18 adults (ages 18–75) newly diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) between January 2016 and July 2021, with a review conducted in January 2024. The findings were remarkable: although all participants were advised to follow a ketogenic diet, only six patients adhered to it for more than six months. At the time of the 3-year review, five of these six patients were still alive, with one surviving over seven years. While one patient had not yet reached three years of survival, the projected 3-year survival rate for those who followed the diet appears to be 83%.
In contrast, among the 12 patients who returned to their regular diet, only one survived beyond three years, with an average survival time of just 16 months—resulting in a 3-year survival rate of only 8.3%.
An interesting observation from the study, which I have also noticed personally, is that men seem to follow the ketogenic diet more successfully than women. This suggests that women may benefit from additional support and guidance.
These findings strongly suggest that adopting a ketogenic diet soon after a glioblastoma diagnosis may significantly extend survival, potentially turning what is typically a matter of months into several years, potentially longer.
If you would like to read the full paper: Kiryttopoulos, A., Evangeliou, A.E., Katsanika, I., Boukovinas, I., Foroglou, N., Zountsas, B., Cheva, A., Nikolopoulos, V., Zaramboukas, T., Duraj, T. and Seyfried, T.N., Successful application of dietary ketogenic metabolic therapy in patients with glioblastoma: a clinical study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 11, p.1489812.
