Low carbohydrate diet and ketogenic diet. Different forms of this diet exist,
some with a moderate reduction of carbohydrates some with a reduction to about 10% of total energy intake with the aim of inducing ketosis.
Schmidt et al. (23) published a pilot study on 16 patients with advanced cancer, on a diet with a maximum of 70 g carbohydrates per day, for an intended eight weeks.
Two patients died, three did not accept the diet and three had progressive disease.
Quality of life was assessed in five patients who finished the study. Emotional function and sleep quality was better while other parameters remained stable or deteriorated. The authors argue that this was due to the advanced stage of their cancer.
Side-effects of the diet were fatigue and constipation