Videoconference “Nutritional Aspects in the Treatment of Glioblastoma”

The sixth conference of the voluntary organization Glioblastoma.IT ODV, the first in 2023 was held successfully. It saw the participation of about 50 people through the different channels. It was held in Italian. As usual, the question and answer session was very lively. We thank all the participants and in particular Dr. Mariateresa Nardi of the Istituto Oncologico Veneto (IOV) who spoke to us very clearly about diets useful in the treatment of glioblastoma, the Ketogenic diet but also other important aspects and what the research says. The question and answer session was also very clear and allowed to shed light on some aspects of interest to the participants. For ease of access, we include below the video of the registration for those who have not managed to participate.

Enjoy!

For those who don’t have time to view the video recording, this is a brief summary.

There are no specific diets for glioblastoma. Patients should follow general dietary recommendations to maintain general good health, such as eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, while avoiding foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. Patients may also be undergoing treatments that affect their appetite and ability to digest food, so it is important to discuss how to manage these side effects with your doctor or a dietitian.

The ketogenic (keto) diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that can help reduce the growth of cancer cells. The primary mechanism of action is that the ketogenic diet causes increased levels of ketone bodies in the blood, which can help kill cancer cells, particularly those of glioblastoma. There have been studies that have shown that the ketogenic diet can improve glioblastoma treatment outcomes in combination with traditional therapy. However, the ketogenic diet is not recommended as a single treatment for glioblastoma and should only be done under the supervision of a doctor or experienced dietitian. Additionally, the ketogenic diet can cause side effects such as nausea, headaches, and weakness, so it needs to be monitored closely.

There are some studies that have explored the effect of the ketogenic diet on glioblastoma. However, most of these studies have been done in animal models or in small groups of human patients, so the results have not yet been confirmed in large studies. In some cases, the ketogenic diet has been used in combination with traditional therapy for glioblastoma and has shown improved patient survival and reduced tumor growth. In some cases, studies have also shown that the ketogenic diet can improve the effect of standard therapy.

Overall, the studies thus far have been promising, but more large studies are needed to confirm the benefits of the ketogenic diet in treating glioblastoma and to determine how it should be used in conjunction with standard therapy. It is important to remember that the ketogenic diet is not recommended as a single treatment for glioblastoma and should only be done under the supervision of a doctor or experienced dietitian.