Fasting and Chemo

Short-Term Fasting and Chemotherapy Tolerance in Breast and Ovarian Cancer

A randomized cross-over pilot study by Bauersfeld and colleagues, published in BMC Cancer in 2018, investigated whether short-term fasting around chemotherapy could improve quality of life and treatment tolerance in patients with breast and ovarian cancer. The study included women undergoing chemotherapy who alternated between fasting and non-fasting treatment cycles, allowing each participant to serve as her own comparison. This design helped isolate the effects of fasting on chemotherapy-related symptoms.

The intervention involved short-term fasting for approximately 36 to 60 hours before and after chemotherapy, while comparison cycles allowed a normal diet. Outcomes were assessed using patient-reported quality-of-life questionnaires, fatigue scales, and symptom severity measures, along with clinician assessments of chemotherapy tolerance and side effects.

The study found that fasting cycles were associated with improved quality of life, reduced fatigue, and fewer chemotherapy-related symptoms, including nausea and weakness. Participants also reported better overall wellbeing during fasting periods. Importantly, short-term fasting was feasible and generally well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported, though the authors emphasized the need for careful patient selection.

These findings suggest that short-term fasting may be a supportive strategy to help some patients better tolerate chemotherapy. While larger randomized trials are needed to confirm efficacy and establish best practices, this study contributes to growing evidence that metabolic interventions may play a role in integrative cancer care when appropriately supervised.

Reference:

Bauersfeld SP, Kessler CS, Wischnewsky M, et al. The effects of short-term fasting on quality of life and tolerance to chemotherapy in patients with breast and ovarian cancer: a randomized cross-over pilot study. BMC Cancer. 2018;18:476. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-018-4353-2