Can Fasting Really Fight Cancer?

Ramadan, a month of profound reflection, spiritual growth, and communal connection, also brings a heightened sense of awareness of our physical well-being.

This year, we explore a fascinating connection between the practice of fasting, central to Ramadan, and cutting-edge research into its potential impact on our immune system, particularly in the fight against cancer.

Your Immune System

Think of your immune system as a highly specialised army, constantly vigilant and patrolling your body for invaders. Among these soldiers are the special forces, also known as Natural Killer (NK) cells.

These NK cells are remarkable in their ability to target and eliminate cancerous or virus-infected cells, without requiring any prior exposure to the threat. They are your body’s first line of defence, ready to act quickly and decisively.

Fasting and Cancer

Scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) have made a groundbreaking discovery: fasting can actually reprogramme these NK cells, significantly enhancing their cancer-fighting capabilities. Their pioneering study sheds light on the mechanisms behind this phenomenon.

The Cancer Environment

Cancer cells are notoriously aggressive, consuming vital nutrients and creating a hostile, resource-depleted environment that poses significant challenges for many immune cells. However, fasting appears to alter this, and researchers have found that periods of fasting empowers NK cells to adapt, and even thrive in this challenging cancerous landscape.

Intermittent Fasting: A Ramadan Connection

The type of fasting studied, often referred to as intermittent fasting, resonates deeply with the practice of Ramadan. During this Holy Month, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset, creating natural periods of fasting. This cyclical pattern mirrors the intermittent fasting approach used in the research, offering a compelling link between the spiritual practice and its potential health benefits.

How Fasting May Help

Emerging evidence suggests that intermittent fasting might help to prevent and treat cancer through several mechanisms:

– Boosting anticancer drug efficacy and tolerance: A study on patients with gynaecological cancer undergoing chemotherapy found that fasting was linked to greater ketone bodies, lower insulin, and IGF‐1 levels in the blood. This resulted in less stomatitis, headaches, and weakness; a lower overall toxicity score; and fewer chemotherapy delays.

Note: Many studies show that fasting is feasible and safe while on chemotherapy, but should always be under the guidance of an oncologist.

– Improving quality of life: Fasting may help improve cancer patients’ quality of life through various adaptable biological mechanisms.

Fuelling the Fight

When we fast intermittently, as during Ramadan, our bodies undergo significant metabolic changes. Glucose levels, the body’s primary source of energy, naturally decrease, while levels of free fatty acids (a type of fat) increase. These fatty acids become an alternate fuel source for the NK cells. It provides them with a specialised fuel, enabling them to navigate and overcome the difficult conditions within a cancerous environment.

Ramadan Reflections

This Ramadan, as we embrace the spiritual dimensions of fasting, we can also appreciate the potential health implications highlighted by this exciting research.

While these studies are promising, fasting is not yet a standard of care for cancer patients or cancer treatment. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating long-term safety, optimal protocols, and effectiveness of this dietary approach across various cancers.

Patients should always consult their healthcare providers before making any dietary changes during cancer treatment.