Emerging research suggests that a new dietary approach called “fasting-mimicking” may help boost the effectiveness of cancer treatments while reducing side effects. This diet involves short periods of very low-calorie intake combined with standard cancer therapies.
Scientists have found that brief cycles of a carefully designed low-calorie diet can trigger changes in the body, making cancer cells more vulnerable to treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy. At the same time, it protects normal healthy cells, potentially decreasing the harsh side effects that often come with cancer therapies.
“We’re seeing some really exciting results in both animal studies and early human trials,” says Dr. Valter Longo, one of the pioneers in this field. “The fasting-mimicking diet seems to create an environment in the body that’s very hostile to cancer cells but supportive of normal cells.”
How It Works
The fasting-mimicking diet typically involves 5 days of very low-calorie intake (around 700-1100 calories per day) every 3-4 weeks. It’s designed to mimic the effects of fasting while still providing some essential nutrients. During these periods, patients eat primarily plant-based foods that are low in protein and sugar but high in healthy fats.
This brief nutritional stress appears to trigger a range of beneficial metabolic changes. It lowers blood sugar, growth factors, and inflammatory markers that can fuel cancer growth. It also activates cellular “recycling” processes and boosts immune function.
“We think the diet essentially tricks the body into a fasting state,” explains Dr. Claudio Vernieri, a leading researcher in this area. “This puts cancer cells under pressure and primes them to be more easily killed by cancer treatments.”
Promising Early Results
While research is still in the early stages, some intriguing findings have emerged:
- In mouse studies, combining the diet with chemotherapy or immunotherapy dramatically slowed tumor growth and extended survival across multiple cancer types.
- Small human trials have found the approach safe and feasible when paired with standard cancer treatments.
- Some patients have shown remarkable responses, with tumors shrinking significantly or disappearing entirely in a few cases.
- The diet appears to reduce treatment side effects in many patients.
However, researchers caution that more extensive clinical trials are still needed to confirm human benefits and determine which patients are most likely to respond.
Not for Everyone
Experts emphasize that cancer patients should not try fasting or extreme diets on their own, as this could be dangerous. The fasting-mimicking approach is carefully designed and should only be done under close medical supervision.
“This is a promising area, but we need more research before making broad recommendations,” says Dr. Debu Tripathy, a cancer specialist not involved in the studies. “Patients interested in this approach should talk to their oncologist about whether it might be appropriate to consider as part of a clinical trial.”
Looking Ahead
Several larger clinical trials are testing fasting-mimicking diets in different cancer types and treatment settings. Researchers are also working to identify biological markers that could predict which patients are most likely to benefit.
If further studies confirm the early positive results, this dietary approach could become a valuable addition to cancer treatment in the coming years. Making cancer cells more vulnerable while protecting healthy cells may help improve the effectiveness and tolerability of cancer therapies.
