Dieta cetogênica no tratamento do câncer: uma revisão sistemática de literatura

Abstract

Introduction: The ketogenic diet, rich in lipids, has become a treatment strategy against cancer, due to the change in the metabolic pathway through the use of ketone bodies as a source of energy instead of glucose, which can influence tumor growth, proliferation and vascularization of cancer. Objective: To evaluate the effects of the ketogenic diet in the complementary treatment of cancer. Method: Systematic literature review in the MEDLINE, PUBMED and VHL databases, using the descriptors “cancer” and “ketogenic diet” and the filters “clinical trial”, “randomized controlled trial” and “controlled clinical trial”, considering articles published between 2012 and 2022. Results: 13 clinical trials were selected for this review, 6 with patients undergoing breast cancer treatment, 3 studies with ovarian or endometrial cancer, 1 with glioblastoma, 1 with rectal cancer, 1 with glioma and 1 study with cancer in general. Conclusion: The ketogenic diet intervention groups showed weight loss, reduction in body mass index, percentage of fat and circumference (arm, waist and hip), improvement in serum glucose and insulin levels. The evaluated patients adhered to the dietary pattern during the studies. Tumor involution was verified in only one study. Regarding the evaluation of the effect of the ketogenic diet on metabolic, hormonal and biochemical biomarkers, quality of life, survival time, physical activity and appetite, further studies are needed in order to make more evident.