Sep 14, 2025
1:00 PM2:00 PM
Poster Session
P362 - THE PRACTICE OF KETOGENIC DIET BY PATIENTS FOLLOWED FOR BREAST CANCER DURING RADIOTHERAPY
P362
THE PRACTICE OF KETOGENIC DIET BY PATIENTS FOLLOWED FOR BREAST CANCER DURING RADIOTHERAPY
R. Laraichi1,2,*, S. Smiti1,2, A. Majdi1,2, K. Nouni1,2, A. Lachgar1,2, H. El kacemi1,3, T. kebdani1,2, K. Hassouni1,2
1radiotherapy, national institute of oncology, 2Faculty of medecine, 3radiotherapy, Mohammed V university, Rabat, Morocco
Rationale: The beneficial effects of the ketogenic diet on tumor response, survival, or quality of life remain unproven. Thus, many oncologists and nutritionists remain skeptical about the application of ketogenic diets in cancer patients, citing concerns related to weight loss and nutritional deficiencies as the main arguments.
This work aimed to assess the incidence of the practice of the ketogenic diet by patients followed for breast cancer, during radiotherapy, and its repercussions on their physical and psychological health.
Methods: Descriptive study conducted on patients followed for breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy during the study period from January 2024 to December 2024. Semi-directed interviews were conducted with 135 patients in ordre to explore the patients' eating habits, their nutritional restrictions, and the impact of the diet on weight and physical power, as well as on the patients' mood and psyche.
Results: Of the 135 patients surveyed, 72.6% claimed to have followed a ketogenic diet, significantly reducing their carbohydrate intake.
Strict restrictions on other foods (meat, milk, eggs) were adopted by 31% of patients. Patients reported hearing about dietary restrictions from the media and from their entourage in 81% of cases, the nutritional changes implemented were not the subject of medical advice or a dietary monitoring.
The median daily caloric intake in patients following ketogenic diets was estimated at 1200 calories and the average weight loss was 5 kg in 02 months. 65 patients reported feeling an asthenia due to the diet. Some patients reported irritability and mood disturbance specially during the first weeks of the ketogenic diet.
Conclusion: Our study confirms the enthusiasm of our patients for ketogenic diet, which underlines the importance of dietary monitoring in oncology to avoid the harmful consequences of such a practice not yet recommended by learned societies.
Disclosure of Interest: None declared