It’s a fairly recent paper (Nov 7, 2023) and the authors were surprised by their finding too:
Surprisingly, we found that glucose restriction- induced de-differentiation and increased aggressiveness requires activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) signaling.
The occurrence and progression of tumors are inseparable from glucose metabolism. With the development of tumors, the volume increases gradually and the nutritional supply of tumors cannot be fully guaranteed. The tumor microenvironment changes and glucose deficiency becomes the common stress environment of tumors. […]
In the face of a series of stress responses brought by glucose deficiency, different types of tumors have different coping mechanisms. […] It turns out that most of these genes help tumor cells survive in glucose-deprivation conditions.
I’m eating low carbs and I’ve been in ketosis (measured!) for several years now so I’m all in with the cancer as a metabolic disease theory. That said, in biology everything always turns out to be more complex than initially thought because there are many redundant pathways especially for energy generation.
I think the vast majority of cancers are likely metabolic in nature. But, I swear everything in life has exceptions. Like you said, biology is more complex than we always think.
My rule with carbs, is do your best to eat healthy versions, and eat them based on your energy expenditure. If you move more, especially aerobically, your muscles work more efficiently off of healthy carbs. They most certainly perform better.
I personally think that’s part of the puzzle. We teach our bodies how to work via our lifestyles. Your metabolism can learn how to use healthy sources of food when regularly in motion.
Just curious what about benign tumors? I have an acoustic neuroma for example (responding well to Cyberknife 5 years on). I am taking a few supplements but wondering how to keep improving my situation. I take D3 k2 astaxanthin, bromelain, SPM resolvins, fucoidan, sometimes taurine, melatonin. I only weigh 53 kgs and all my blood results are good (also am post Covid).
Here are some slides from Dr Seyfried’s video on cancer as a metabolic disease.
His talk is focused on treating cancer but it seems sensible to avoid cancer using the same ideas for making mitochondria healthy
For me:
Higher carb intake only when matched with physical activity. Otherwise low-ish carb via vegetables for satiation, nutrients and fiber/phytonutrients (for gut, mainly).
Limit consumption of nonessential amino acids. (And don’t eat more EAA than needed for recovery and muscle building). No whey or other protein supplements. Consider EAA supplementation if short on intake. Get protein from real food but only what is needed. Emphasize post resistance training periods.
Water only fasting 1 24-hour period each week.
Exercise regularly with no planned full rest days. Balance calorie intake, protein, carbs with exercise volume and intensity.
Other: provide regular just tolerable stress in a progressive overload fashion. Heat/cold, a bit of HIIT every week, metabolic flexibility, range of motion, etc
