Combination of ketogenic diet and probiotics inhibits breast cancer in mice by immune system modulation and reduction of Insulin growth factor-1

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignancy in women and the first tumor type in the world. Ketogenic diets (KD), which are high in fat, low in carbohydrates, and sufficient in protein, can be used alone or as adjuvants with cancer drug medication as cancer therapy or prevention methods. Probiotics are nonpathogenic microorganisms or groups of bacteria that live in the gut and nourish the host body. In this work, we tested a new KD-probiotic combination against breast cancer implanted in mice. Several combination of probiotics (1×109 CFU/0.5ml) and KD (14.1 kcal/2g) reduced tumor size and enhanced cure rate. KD and combination therapy groups increased beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) while decrease blood glucose, and IGF-1.IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 serum levels were measured to assess immune reaction to various therapies. Combination and probiotics therapy raised IFN-γ, and IL-4 levels, however IL-10 level did decrease in all treated group with highest decrease in combination group. In the safety profile, probiotics, ketogenic diet, and their combination were safe. Overall, the combination of a ketogenic diet and probiotics has the potential to be utilized in the future development of anti-cancer nutrition to augment conventional therapies. Graphical abstract. Summary of the effect of Ketogenic diet, Probiotics and its combination on EMP-6 breast cancer cell and in vivo: