Researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai found that the high-fat ketogenic diet fights low platelets in the blood caused by chemotherapy. Research results published In the journal Science Translational Medicine.
The ketogenic diet is a diet treatment that is high in fat, protein and very low in carbohydrates. It is widely used as a way to lose weight. Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia is a serious complication in cancer patients. It can cause worse treatment outcomes and an increased risk of death.
Experiments showed that switching to a ketogenic diet for 7 days increased platelet counts in five healthy volunteers. Additionally, after analyzing previous studies, the scientists found that 17 of 28 cancer patients who followed the ketogenic diet suffered less from the disease.
“Therapeutic options for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia are limited due to serious side effects and high cost. However, the ketogenic diet alleviates thrombocytopenia in both animals and humans without causing thrombocytosis,” the scientists say.
The ketogenic diet stimulates the production of ketone bodies in the liver that help fight disease. They cause changes in the bone marrow, causing an increase in the number of platelets in the circulation.