The Keto Diet Variation That Could Be Your Shield Against Lung Cancer

The diet has many other benefits.

The ketogenic (keto) diet, characterized by its low-carbohydrate and high-fat composition, aims to induce a state of ketosis, wherein the body utilizes fat for energy instead of glucose. While initially developed for epilepsy management, its potential benefits in addressing diabetes, obesity, and even cancer are under scrutiny by researchers.

A recent study conducted by BC Cancer and the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in Canada, featured in Scientific Reports, delves into the anti-cancer effects of keto diets, particularly in mitigating lung cancer. The study, performed on mice, underscores the significance of selecting healthy fats within the keto framework, with specific emphasis on fish oil.

Examining the impact of various fat-enriched keto diets on lung nodule development induced by nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK), researchers found compelling evidence supporting the efficacy of keto diets in preventing lung nodules. Notably, a keto diet supplemented with fish oil emerged as particularly effective, surpassing other fat-enriched keto diets in inhibiting lung nodule formation.

The study’s findings suggest that omega-3 fatty acids abundant in fish oil, such as EPA, DPA, and DHA, play a pivotal role in curtailing lung cancer nodule formation. This underscores the potential of fish oil to enhance ketosis and regulate cell cycles, ultimately impeding the progression of lung tumors.

While the precise mechanisms underlying fish oil’s effectiveness remain unclear, experts speculate its ability to augment ketosis and modulate cell cycles may contribute to its anti-cancer properties. Notably, fish oil has been linked to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cell lines, suggesting its therapeutic potential in cancer management.

Despite these promising findings, the study’s applicability to humans requires further investigation, and the exact mechanisms of fish oil’s efficacy necessitate additional research. However, the study underscores the potential of keto diets supplemented with fish oil as a therapeutic intervention in lung cancer prevention and treatment.