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Women’s health

Peer-Reviewed Scientific Articles​

Favorable Effects of a Ketogenic Diet on Physical Function, Perceived Energy, and Food Cravings in Women with Ovarian or Endometrial Cancer:
A Randomized, Controlled Trial

October 24, 2022 No Comments

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30200193/
Journal: Nutrients
Publication Date: 08/2018
Summary: Ketogenic diets (KDs) are gaining attention as a potential adjuvant therapy for cancer, but data are limited for KDs’ effects on quality of life. We hypothesized that the KD would (1) improve mental and physical function, including energy levels, (2) reduce hunger, and (3) diminish sweet and starchy food cravings in women with ovarian or endometrial cancer. Participants were randomized to a KD (70:25:5 energy from fat, protein, and carbohydrate) or the American Cancer Society diet (ACS: high-fiber, lower-fat). Questionnaires were administered at baseline and after 12 weeks on the assigned diet to assess changes in mental and physical health, perceived energy, appetite, and food cravings. We assessed both between-group differences and within-group changes using ANCOVA and paired t-tests, respectively. After 12 weeks, there was a significant between-group difference in adjusted physical function scores (p < 0.05), and KD participants not receiving chemotherapy reported a significant within-group reduction in fatigue (p < 0.05). There were no significant between-group differences in mental function, hunger, or appetite. There was a significant between-group difference in adjusted cravings for starchy foods and fast food fats at 12 weeks (p < 0.05 for both), with the KD group demonstrating less frequent cravings than the ACS. In conclusion, in women with ovarian or endometrial cancer, a KD does not negatively affect quality of life and in fact may improve physical function, increase energy, and diminish specific food cravings. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03171506.

Key Takeaways

This study demonstrated that women with ovarian and endometrial cancer experience a reduction in starchy food cravings, improved physical function, and a reduction in fatigue when eating a ketogenic diet compared to the high fiber low fat diet recommended by the American Cancer Society.

Cancer Patients do Better on Keto Than The American Cancer Society Diet

A Ketogenic Diet Is Acceptable in Women with Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer and Has No Adverse Effects on Blood Lipids: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

October 24, 2022 No Comments

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31352797/

Journal: Nutrition and Cancer

Publication Date: 07/2019

Summary: Ketogenic diets (KDs) are emerging as effective therapies for several chronic diseases, including cancer. However, concerns regarding safety and adherence may prevent clinicians from prescribing KDs. We hypothesized that a KD does not negatively affect blood lipid profile compared to a lower-fat diet in ovarian and endometrial cancer patients, and that KD subjects would demonstrate acceptable adherence. Subjects were randomized to either a KD (70% fat, 25% protein, 5% carbohydrate), or the American Cancer Society diet (ACS; high-fiber and lower-fat). Blood lipids and ketones were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of the assigned intervention. Adherence measures included urinary ketones in the KD and 4 days’ diet records. Diet records were also examined to identify general patterns of consumption. Differences between the diets on blood lipids and dietary intake were assessed with Analysis of covariance and independent t-tests. Correlation analyses were used to estimate associations between dietary intake and serum analytes. At 12 weeks, there were no significant differences between diet groups in blood lipids, after adjusting for baseline values and weight loss. Adherence among KD subjects ranged from 57% to 80%. These findings suggest that KDs may be a safe and achievable component of treatment for some cancer patients.

Key Takeaways

Ketogenic diets do not have negative effects on blood lipids, and adherence in a group of cancer patients ranged from 57-80%. This combined with the ketogenic diets likely benefit in cancer patients makes it an achievable addition to cancer therapy.

Cancer Patients Were Able to Adhere To Keto Without Negative Effects

A Ketogenic Diet Reduces Central Obesity and Serum Insulin in Women with Ovarian or Endometrial Cancer

October 24, 2022 No Comments

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30137481/
Journal: The Journal of Nutrition
Publication Date: 08/2018
Summary: In women with ovarian or endometrial cancer, a ketogenic diet (KD) results in selective loss of fat mass and retention of lean mass. Visceral fat mass and fasting serum insulin also are reduced by the KD, perhaps owing to enhanced insulin sensitivity. Elevated serum β-hydroxybutyrate may reflect a metabolic environment inhospitable to cancer proliferation. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03171506.

Key Takeaways

Women with ovarian cancer were able to utilize the ketogenic diet to lose fat without losing muscle mass. They were also able to reduce the fat surrounding their organs and improve metabolic markers such as insulin, insulin sensitivity, IGF-1. Additionally they had increased levels of ketone bodies, which may play a role in fighting cancer.

Cancer Patients Improve Body Composition With Keto

Consuming an All-Meat Ketogenic Diet for the Long-Term Management of Candida Vulvovaginitis and Vaginal Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A 47-Month Follow-Up Case Report

October 22, 2022 No Comments

URL: https://www.cureus.com/articles/119195-consuming-an-all-meat-ketogenic-diet-for-the-long-term-management-of-candida-vulvovaginitis-and-vaginal-hidradenitis-suppurativa-a-47-month-follow-up-case-report
Journal: Cureus
Publication Date: 10/2022
Summary: This case report describes long-term therapeutic management in a 33-year-old diagnosed with Candida vulvovaginitis and vulvar hidradenitis suppurativa 47 months previously. Candida spp. yeasts are part of many women’s normal vaginal microflora, and the development of vulvovaginal candidiasis is typically a result of a disturbance in the patient’s microbial ecosystem, which manifests itself by intense pruritus, erythema, swelling, and thick white vaginal discharge. Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic auto-inflammatory skin condition that causes painful weeping lesions in areas of dense apocrine glands. Although certain mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Hidradenitis Suppurativa (e.g., risk factors include smoking, obesity, and family history) have been investigated, a definitive explanation remains elusive.

Nutritional intervention in the form of an all-meat ketogenic diet may be considered therapy in the management of both diseases, as successfully seen in this case report. The patient refused standard of care with oral fluconazole for Candida vulvovaginitis and surgical removal for Hidradenitis suppurativa, and instead consumed a zero-carbohydrate all-meat ketogenic diet mostly of beef with strict adherence to the diet for 43 days in which symptoms ceased.

Key Takeaways

Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a skin infection that occurs in areas of the body with skin folds/creases such as the armpit, groin, vulva, etc where the skin becomes red, painful, and drains pus. This patient had hidradenitis suppurativa and a yeast infection in her vulva and vaginal region. She refused antibiotics, and instead did a carnivore diet. After 43 days of the carnivore diet, her symptoms were gone and the infections cleared.

Carnivore Diet Improves Yeast and Skin Infections

Effects of a ketogenic diet in overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome

April 29, 2020 No Comments

URL: https://translational-medicine.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12967-020-02277-0

Journal: Journal of Translational Medicine

Publication Date: 02/2020

Summary: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women during reproductive age. It is characterized clinically by oligo-ovulation or anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and the presence of polycystic ovaries. It is associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The onset of PCOS has been associated to several hereditary and environmental factors, but insulin resistance plays a key pathogenetic role. We sought to investigate the effects of a ketogenic diet (KD) on women of childbearing age with a diagnosis of PCOS. Fourteen overweight women with diagnosis of PCOS underwent to a ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phyoextracts (KEMEPHY) for 12 week. Changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat body mass (FBM), lean body mass (LBM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TGs), total and free testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH); dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAs), estradiol, progesterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and Ferriman Gallwey score were evaluated. After 12 weeks, anthropometric and body composition measurements revealed a significant reduction of body weight (− 9.43 kg), BMI (− 3.35), FBM (8.29 kg) and VAT. There was a significant, slightly decrease of LBM. A significant decrease in glucose and insulin blood levels were observed, together with a significant improvement of HOMA-IR. A significant decrease of triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL were observed along with a rise in HDL lev- els. The LH/FSH ratio, LH total and free testosterone, and DHEAS blood levels were also significantly reduced. Estradiol, progesterone and SHBG increased. The Ferriman Gallwey Score was slightly, although not significantly, reduced. Our results suggest that a KD may be considered as a valuable non pharmacological treatment for PCOS. Longer treatment periods should be tested to verify the effect of a KD on the dermatological aspects of PCOS

Key Takeaways

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome occurs in women with a genetic predisposition that is triggered by obesity and insulin resistance. This results in a hormonal change resulting in excess male sex hormones, cysts in the ovaries, and increased hair growth on face, chest, and other areas. When a group of women with PCOS were placed on a mediterranean ketogenic diet, they saw a reduction in body fat, body weight, insulin resistance, and blood lipids. They also saw a significant normalization in hormone levels with decreases in male sex hormones and increases in female sex hormones.

Ketogenic Diets May Be A Useful Non-Pharmocologic Treatment For PCOS

The Effects of a High-Protein Diet on Bone Mineral Density in Exercise-Trained Women: A 1-Year Investigation

October 3, 2019 No Comments

URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/3/4/62

Journal: Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology

 Publication Date: 12/2018

 Summary: Exercise-trained female subjects that consume a diet that is approximately three times greater than the RDA for protein experience no harmful effects on bone mineral density or content. Nor were there any harmful effects on renal function.

Key Takeaways

In female subjects who exercised regularly, high protein diets that are 3x the recommended daily value did not negatively affect the bones or kidney function.

High Protein Diets Will Hurt My Kidneys Right? Wrong!

Vitamin D deficiency in mothers, neonates and children

October 3, 2019 No Comments

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28179126/

Journal: The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Publication Date: 01/2018

Summary: Vitamin D deficiency mainly occurs if strict vegetarian diet is followed as mostly the source of vitamin D is animal based. Low vitamin D levels results in increased possibility of gestational diabetes among pregnant women, low birth weight and pre-eclampsia in infants, and mothers may suffer bone impairment, osteoporosis, hypocalcaemia, and hypertension. Vitamin D deficiency is directly linked with severe complication in mothers and neonates, causing rickets, poor fetal growth and infantile eczema in neonates.

Key Takeaways

Strict vegan diets can lead to low Vitamin D, which can result in gestational diabetes, low birth weight, and high blood pressure during pregnancy. Mothers can also experience low calcium and osteoporosis. Newborns may also experience rickets, poor growth, and eczema due to Vitamin D deficiency.

Vegan Diets, Vitamin D, and Problems During Pregnancy and Birth

Oxalate induces breast cancer

October 3, 2019 No Comments

URL: https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-015-1747-2

Journal: BMC Cancer

Publication Date: 10/2015

Summary: Higher concentrations of oxalates were found in breast cancer tissue. Injecting oxalates into the mammary fatpad of mice induced malignant tumor formation.

Key Takeaways

Oxalates are found in plant foods such as spinach, potatoes, almonds, and cocoa. These oxalate compounds can deposit in body tissues and cause harm. This study found that breast cancer tissue had high levels of oxalates. Also, when mice had oxalates injected into their breast tissue, tumor formation occurred.

Oxalate Rich Diets May Lead To Breast Cancer

Protein-enriched diet, with the use of lean red meat, combined with progressive resistance training enhances lean tissue mass and muscle strength and reduces circulating IL-6 concentrations in elderly women: a cluster randomized controlled trial

October 3, 2019 No Comments

URL: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/99/4/899/4637870

Journal: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Publication Date: 04/2014

Summary: 100 elderly women were randomized to a high protein diet supplemented with lean red meat combined with progressive resistance training versus progressive resistance training with a control diet. Lean tissue mass and strenghth increased more in the meat supplemented group. IGF-1 increase more and IL-6 decreased more in the meat supplemented group

Key Takeaways

High protein red meat containing diets lead to better strength, more lean mass, increased growth factors, and decreased inflammatory markers compared to a control diet in elderly women doing resistance training.

Losing Muscle as You Age? Try Eating Some Steak!

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