The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Cancer - Evidence From Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes

Sep 22, 2026

Emerging research indicates that a ketogenic diet may support cancer care by improving metabolic parameters and reducing treatment-related burdens. This review synthesizes evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses, evaluating effects on metabolic outcomes, body composition, quality of life, and tumor progression, while treating treatment-related complications as exploratory endpoints. Evidence was assessed after screening 615 articles and examining 24 eligible reviews.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Introduction

Methods

Study Selection and Search Strategy

The Effect of a Ketogenic Diet on Cancer: Evidence From Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes Integrative Cancer Therapies Volume 25: 1–9 © The Author(s) 2026 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/15347354261422756](DOI: 10.1177/15347354261422756)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/15347354261422756)[journals.sagepub.com/home/ict](journals.sagepub.com/home/ict) Majid Kamali, Msc 1, Masoomeh Ataei Kachooei, MD2, Bahareh Aminnezhad, MSc3, Elham Nikoei Foshtomi, MSc4, Alireza Eftekhar, MSc5, Ali Shamsi-Goushki, PhD6, Saeideh Mohammadi, MSc7, Ali Nouri, MSc8, Mohammad Esmail Akbari, MD7, Mona Zendehdel, MSc5, Bita Moradi, BSc9, Narjes Ashouri Mirsadeghi, MSc7, Parsa Bahmani, BSc7, Farnush Bakhshimoghaddam, PhD5, Razieh Bahiraie, BSc7, Hamid Abbasi, BSc 1, 10, Saeid Doaei, PhD7, and Maryam Gholamalizadeh, PhD7 Abstract Background: Emerging evidence suggests that the ketogenic diet (KD) may support cancer treatment by improving metabolic parameters and reducing treatment-related side effects. This review aimed to synthesize evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the effects of ketogenic diets in cancer, focusing on metabolic outcomes, body composition, quality of life, and tumor progression. Treatment-related complications were considered as exploratory outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive review of meta-analyses were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for systematic reviews and meta-analyses exploring the effects of KDon cancer and treatment side effects. After screening 615 articles, 24 eligible reviews were examined to explore the effects of ketogenic diets on metabolism, quality of life, body composition, and cancer progression. Results: KD improved metabolic markers such as glucose and triglycerides, and showed benefits in body composition and quality of life. Evidence on treatment-related complications, including radiotherapy side effects, was limited and heterogeneous. Conclusions: KD shows promise as a safe and effective adjunctive therapy in cancer management. More evidence is needed to draw firm conclusions. Keywords ketogenic diet, cancer, side effect, radiotherapy Received: February 3, 2025; accepted: January 26, 2026 Introduction Cancer is the second leading cause of death from non-communicable diseases in the world. Globally, more than 20 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2022, and over 9.7 million people died from the disease. Despite this burden, access to treatment has expanded substantially, with millions of patients now receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, or targeted therapies; However, notable differences in care continue across regions.1 This continuing rise in incidence and mortality highlights the urgent need for coordinated global strategies to reduce the cancer burden and to ensure equitable access to effective treatments across populations.2 Standard cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery remain the cornerstone of care worldwide.3 However, these modalities are frequently associated with adverse effects including fatigue, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, and treatment-induced malnutrition, which can strongly affect patients’ quality of life (QoL) and limit Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial 4.0 License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages ([https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage](https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage)). adherence to therapy.4 Optimal nutritional support plays

FAQs

What is the purpose of the review?

To synthesize evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses on how ketogenic diets affect cancer outcomes, including metabolic indices, body composition, quality of life, and tumor progression.

Which outcomes were emphasized in the included evidence?

Metabolic markers (e.g., glucose and triglycerides), body composition, and quality of life were central, while treatment-related complications such as radiotherapy side effects were considered as exploratory outcomes.

What did the results suggest about ketogenic diets in cancer care?

The evidence indicated improvements in metabolic markers and potential benefits for body composition and quality of life, but findings on treatment-related complications were limited and heterogeneous.

Sep 22, 2026

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