Changes in BHB, Glucose, and Insulin that Mimic Ketogenic Diet-Induced Changes May Affect MCF7 Growth and Metabolism

Cancer is a complex class of diseases that are characterized by out-of-control cell growth in the human body. They cause harm to the body when they form into tumours and are responsible on a global scale for millions of deaths annually. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women specifically. It has been linked to factors that are associated with obesity such as adipose tissue, high insulin, and many other factors. The ketogenic diet is a low carb, moderate protein, and high fat diet that helps reduce adipose tissue markers associated with obesity and cancer. Fat metabolism and ketone production may also help to fight cancer cell growth by starving tumours of glucose. More specifically, physiological levels of ketones and glucose seen on a ketogenic diet may also shift cancer cells to a dysfunctional oxidative phosphorylation within the mitochondria while raising levels of cell cycle inhibitors.