This was done in mice. It would be nice if they had included that in the original title. Fasting seems to always have amazing advantages in mice, but we need more studies done on humans. There seem to be advantages for humans as well but the results are usually not as impressive and we need more data.
The nice thing about this treatment is that testing should be a bit easier. Not really dangerous in a controlled setting, and if you find someone who is early stages of cancer then if it isn't effective you can switch to a known treatment.
A strict diet might weaken you right? Many cancer patient get very thin and I guess you don't want to start the treatment like that so you miss fat reserves.
Quick take from the abstract:
"The vulnerability of cancer cells to nutrient deprivation and their dependency on specific metabolites are emerging hallmarks of cancer. Fasting or fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) lead to wide alterations in growth factors and in metabolite levels, generating environments that can reduce the capability of cancer cells to adapt and survive and thus improving the effects of cancer therapies. In addition, fasting or FMDs increase resistance to chemotherapy in normal but not cancer cells and promote regeneration in normal tissues, which could help prevent detrimental and potentially life-threatening side effects of treatments. While fasting is hardly tolerated by patients, both animal and clinical studies show that cycles of low-calorie FMDs are feasible and overall safe. "
It's interesting that a side effect of pretty much every treatment for cancer is nausea, weight loss, etc. Almost like reduced nutrient absorption is the main mechanism by which the treatments work.
Since most cancer treatments target fast-replicating cells and the gut is lined with such cells I think you have the arrow of causality backwards in this case.
Comments
This was done in mice. It would be nice if they had included that in the original title. Fasting seems to always have amazing advantages in mice, but we need more studies done on humans. There seem to be advantages for humans as well but the results are usually not as impressive and we need more data.
The nice thing about this treatment is that testing should be a bit easier. Not really dangerous in a controlled setting, and if you find someone who is early stages of cancer then if it isn't effective you can switch to a known treatment.
A strict diet might weaken you right? Many cancer patient get very thin and I guess you don't want to start the treatment like that so you miss fat reserves.
Depends whether it weakens 'you' or the cancer and which succumbs first!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6938162/
Quick take from the abstract: "The vulnerability of cancer cells to nutrient deprivation and their dependency on specific metabolites are emerging hallmarks of cancer. Fasting or fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) lead to wide alterations in growth factors and in metabolite levels, generating environments that can reduce the capability of cancer cells to adapt and survive and thus improving the effects of cancer therapies. In addition, fasting or FMDs increase resistance to chemotherapy in normal but not cancer cells and promote regeneration in normal tissues, which could help prevent detrimental and potentially life-threatening side effects of treatments. While fasting is hardly tolerated by patients, both animal and clinical studies show that cycles of low-calorie FMDs are feasible and overall safe. "
I would disagree and make the important distinction that many chemo treatment recipients get very thin.
Like saying "I don't have time to take a shower, because my bath takes an hour"
It's interesting that a side effect of pretty much every treatment for cancer is nausea, weight loss, etc. Almost like reduced nutrient absorption is the main mechanism by which the treatments work.
Since most cancer treatments target fast-replicating cells and the gut is lined with such cells I think you have the arrow of causality backwards in this case.
Obviously I am saying the standard explanation is the one with the causality backwards.
Fasting doesn't have to mean fewer calories. It could mean eating all of your daily calories in a 6 hour window, instead of 3 times per day.