Ketogenic Diets and ß-Hydroxybutyrate May Suppress Colorectal Cancer
Douglas K. Rex, MD, MASGE, reviewing Dmitrieva-Posocco O, et al. Nature 2022 May.
High-sugar diets and hyperglycemia have been associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, investigators showed that ketogenic diets both prevented and treated CRC induced by azoxymethane in mice.
Low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets induce hepatic production of ketone bodies, including ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). The authors showed that BHB treatment alone in mice reduced CRC tumor burdens. Next, the authors showed that BHB inhibited intestinal epithelial proliferation in certain CRC cell lines of healthy patients.
COMMENTThis is a potentially important paper in the primary prevention of colon cancer. Obviously, randomized controlled trials of ketogenic diets would be needed to establish benefit. Nevertheless, patients with CRC or those asking about CRC prevention could be told that some evidence exists regarding related benefits of a ketogenic diet.
Note to readers: At the time we reviewed this paper, its publisher noted that it was not in final form and that subsequent changes might be made.
CITATION(S)
Dmitrieva-Posocco O, Wong AC, Lundgren P, et al. ß-hydroxybutyrate suppresses colorectal cancer. Nature 2022;605:160-165. (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04649-6)
