Unexpected Link Found: Keto Diet Raises Small Intestine Cancer Risk in Mice

How the Keto Diet Affects Cancer Development

According to НВ — Техно: Published on July 17 at 08:00, a new study in EurekAlert examined how a ketogenic diet influences tumor growth in different parts of the gut among mice genetically prone to cancer. The findings revealed that this eating pattern increased the frequency of tumors in the small intestine, while it actually suppressed tumor development in the large intestine. Notably, this effect was tied to how the body processes fats, not to ketone bodies themselves.

Study Design and Key Findings

Researchers fed the mice one of three diets: ketogenic, standard, or a high-calorie, high-fat regimen. Mice on the keto diet developed small intestine tumors more often than those in the control group. Interestingly, these mice did not gain excess weight. The rate of small intestine tumors in the keto group matched or even exceeded that seen in the high-calorie diet group.

According to the study, the rise in tumors occurs because small intestine cells use fats for energy, which activates proteins that drive stem cell proliferation. In contrast, the keto diet effectively suppressed tumor growth in the large intestine-a result consistent with a previous 2022 study. The protective effect in the large intestine is not linked to ketone bodies; instead, both the increased tumor risk and the protective effect stem from how fats are metabolized.

Overall, the research highlights the complex impact of a ketogenic diet on different sections of the gut, with significant implications for understanding cancer mechanisms in people genetically predisposed to tumors. These results may prompt further studies to clarify how these factors affect human health and whether dietary guidelines should be tailored for individuals at higher cancer risk. Uncovering these mechanisms could pave the way for new cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

In addition to understanding how the keto diet impacts cancer risk, it’s essential to explore how various food components, like sugars, influence our overall health and appetite. Recent research highlights the distinct ways different types of sugars can shape our cravings and metabolic responses. Discover more about these intriguing findings in our article on the effects of sugars on appetite.