A new study published in the journal Nature Medicine on May 29, 2024, found that a low-carbohydrate diet can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and improve survival rates for early-stage breast cancer patients. Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Centre at San Antonio and the MD Anderson Cancer Centre led the study, which investigated dietary interventions as a non-pharmacological strategy to improve patient outcomes, particularly for the many breast cancer patients who are overweight or obese.
The study involved 128 overweight or obese early-stage breast cancer patients, who were randomly assigned to either a low-carbohydrate diet group or a standard diet group for six months. The low-carbohydrate group restricted carbohydrate intake to less than 20% of daily calories, while the standard group maintained 50-60%. After six months, the low-carbohydrate group achieved an average weight loss of 6% of their body weight, compared to 2% in the standard diet group. This group also exhibited significant reductions in insulin levels, inflammation markers, and other factors associated with cancer growth.
These outcomes suggest that a low-carbohydrate diet could be a viable strategy to enhance survival and reduce recurrence risk for early-stage breast cancer patients. The study highlights the potential impact of dietary changes on cancer progression. However, further research is required to validate these findings in larger and more diverse patient populations and to determine optimal diet duration and specific carbohydrate types.
