IMPLEMENTING A KETOGENIC DIET BASED ON MEDIUM-CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDE OIL IN PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS WITH CANCER

Traditionally, a ketogenic diet is given to drug-resistant children wi th epilepsy to improve seizure control. Inducing a ketogenic State in patients with cancer may be a useful adjunct to cancer treatment by af fecting tumor glucose metabolism and growth while maintaining the pati ent's nutritional status. A ketogenic diet consisting of 60% medium-ch ain triglyceride (MCT) oil, 20% protein, 10% carbohydrate, and 10% oth er dietary fats was provided to a select group of pediatric patients w ith advanced-stage cancer to test the effects,of dietary-induced ketos is on tumor glucose metabolism. Issues of tolerance and compliance for patients consuming an oral diet (consisting of normal table foods and daily MCT oil ''shakes'') and for patients receiving an enteral formu la are reviewed. Preliminary use of the MCT oil-based diet suggests a potential in pediatric patients with cancer.