Can Low-Carb Diet Cause Cancer? Study Finds Keto Diet May Fuel Colorectal Cancer

The Ketogenic Diet, or Keto Diet, has been popular since the 1920s and 1930s for treating epilepsy. It gained renewed popularity in the 1990s and 2000s with the rise of low-carb diets, particularly the Atkins Diet. Despite significant advancements in healthcare, it remains a subject of debate regarding its long-term health effects.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Keto Diet has seen a surge in popularity over the past 15 years, prompting scientists to conduct extensive research into its effects.

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What is the Keto Diet?

“The ketogenic or keto diet is a dietary approach characterized by high fat and low carbohydrate intake, aiming to facilitate weight loss, enhance mental clarity, and boost energy levels,” explains NIH.

However, while many advocate for the Keto Diet’s role in weight loss, a new study by the University of Toronto, Canada, has raised concerns. The research suggests that low-carb diets, including the Keto Diet, may be linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, which affects the colon and rectum.

About the Study

To examine the impact of a low-carb diet on colorectal cancer, researchers conducted experiments on mice, comparing the effects of normal, low-carb, and Western-style diets while analyzing various bacterial strains. Their findings revealed that a low-carb diet could stimulate the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli), a bacteria linked to colorectal cancer.

Furthermore, the study found that a low-carb diet could induce the formation of more polyps in mismatch-repair-deficient mice by triggering a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), potentially contributing to colorectal cancer development.

For a deeper understanding of the connection between the Keto Diet and colorectal cancer, researchers introduced bacteria previously associated with the disease—such as Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, Helicobacter hepaticus, and Escherichia coli—into mice. These mice were then fed either a low-carbohydrate (LC) diet deficient in soluble fiber, a high-fat and high-sugar diet, or a standard diet to assess the dietary influence on cancer risk.