“We have the survival gene,” says an influencer on Tiktok. “When we do not feed our body for more than twelve hours, this gene is activated (…) Our cells will begin to draw the sick cells (…) we take care of ourselves,” he explains with determination.
Another states without hesitation that fasting is “an alternative to chemotherapy” and encourages their subscribers to promote them with their loved ones suffering from cancer. “Yes, fasting eliminates cancer cells,” claims a third party that is presented as a “vital hygiene” naturopath. “
Ultra restrictive diet, fast or total water fasting to “die of hunger” the tumor … This type of recommendations are widespread on social networks, especially in some unconventional care practices. The theories that are infused in hospitals, ensure BFMTV Bruno Raynaud, gastroenterologist and hepatologist who directs the Nutrition Service of the Regional Center to fight against the Ruiseía in Villejuif (Val-de-Marne).
“Patients often ask us the question.”
Because in fact, it happens that people with fast cancer. Around 13.8% of cancer survivors have already practiced a restrictive diet since their diagnosis and during 6% a period of fasting, estimates the Nutrine-Santine cohort published in 2018, an important study that evaluates relationships between health and nutrition.
“Tumor cells have resources”
Where does this idea of fasting against cancer come from? From an American biology teacher and fasting ambassador, Valter Longo, who significantly published in 2012 a study often cited. It shows that short fasting periods are as effective as chemotherapy against certain cancers in mice.
Could you deprive your food body really help you fight cancer? To completely understand the mechanisms at stake, it should first be taken into account that cancer cells have the ability to multiply incessantly, as explained by the National Institute of Medical Health and Research (INSERM) on a page dedicated to the subject. And they need a lot of energy.
But if most cancer cells consume much more sugar than healthy cells, glucose is not their only source of energy: dislikes a doctor, beaten in order, known for their promotion of “natural medications” that supports the videos transmitted on Tiktok than “cancer, its food is sugar.
The reality is more complex. Because tumor cells can also draw from proteins and lipids provided by food, indicates the insert. “Tumor cells have a very large adaptability (…) for growth, tumors will tend to favor fatty acids and even have the ability to make their own lipids. In other words, tumor cells have resources.”
And to answer the question about any benefit of fasting against cancer, science has investigated the issue. In animals, the conclusions are “heterogeneous”, it points to inserts “, with results that in turn suggest beneficial, neutral or even harmful effects in terms of tumor growth, survival rate or even efficiency or ability to support anti -cancer treatments.”
No scientific evidence
What about humans? “There is very lacking quality scientific data,” says Bruno Raynaud, of the Gustave Roussy Institute, immediately. Methodology problems, low workforce, subjective evaluation parameters … reliable and serious studies are not legion.
However, the conclusions of the Nutritional Activity Cancer Research Network (Nacre Network) that brings together research teams and experts in the field of nutrition and cancer are a jurisprudence. “The examination of all scientific data on fasting and restrictive regimes (…) does not provide proof of an effect (beneficial or harmful) in humans in primary prevention or during disease (either a healing effect or interaction with anti -cáncer treatments).”
However, for Bruno Raynaud, fasting could have harmful consequences. “If you eliminate carbohydrates, it also eliminates vitamins, trace elements, lipids, proteins,” says the doctor.
“Moving from a diet of the order of 2000 calories to zero necessarily leads to weight loss and loss of muscle mass. This is extremely harmful, both in efficiency and in the tolerance of treatments,” alerts this specialist.
“A more or less long term, from a few days to a few weeks, obviously affects the survival of the patient.”
“More harmful than effective”
Similar concerns for insertm. “When wanting to” die of hunger for tumors, it is the entire organism that we run the risk of weakening. Tumor cells are not the only ones that need carbohydrates; Muscle, cardiac, liver or brain cells. “Malnutrition would be directly responsible for 5 to 25% of deaths in people with cancer.
“Fasting is actually much more harmful than Bruno Raynaud warns.
If this doctor advocates, however, the dialogue and medical support of patients who would still choose fasting, and acknowledges that fasting remains an interesting research track: the work is currently being carried out to try to prevent tumors from using the organization’s energy resources: none has yet been successful.
“No, he is not exempt from risks”
The other peculiarity of the subject is the possible vulnerability situation of these patients who try fasting. “We can understand that patients, whose life is at stake, look for solutions,” sympathizes Pascale Duval, spokesman for the Family Defense Association and individual victims of sects (UNADFI). “They tell themselves that you have to try everything and that in the worst case, it is likely to try.”
He pointed out what the surveillance interminicist mission and the fight against sectarian abuses (miviludes) in his latest report. “People weakened by this pathology can be sensitive to practices that promote ‘care’ without chemotherapy, heavy and feared treatment.”
A fear that Dr. Bruno Raynaud shares. “The subject is hyperperation, which makes patients very difficult and puts them in difficulty. The risk is for anyone to hurry this blur.” Mivilludes even points to a risk of manipulation.
“The ascendant voluntarily exercised by a pseudotherapist about a patient, encouraged to neglect his true treatment, often leads to a significant degradation of his physical and mental health, even to a deprivation of care. The influence of some of these pseudotherapists is sometimes so strong that it is like a form of grip.”
“Devied practitioners,” he denounces Pascale Duval, who sail for the trend of well-being and the return to the natural under the cover of a scientific pseudo-discs. “But it is of the order of belief, not science. And no, it is not exempt from risks.”
Because there were dramatic precedents. In July 2020, a man in sixty years suffered terminal cancer died after having participated in an extended fasting course the previous month. In 2022, a young woman suffered from liver cancer and out of treatment died after having followed a training and fasting course. Internships organized by the naturopath Éric Gandon, accused of involuntary homicide.
Source: BFM TV
