Dietary restriction fuels T cells with ketones, boosting their cancer-fighting stamina (Lower calorie, high protein)

Medical Xpress / Van Andel Research Institute / Nature Metabolism ^ | Dec. 9, 2025 | Beth Hinshaw / Brandon M. Oswald et al

[ConservativeMind]

Reducing calorie intake helps cancer-fighting immune cells do their jobs more effectively, reports a study. The findings lay the groundwork for developing dietary strategies to boost the effects of a powerful class of cancer immunotherapies.

"Growing evidence suggests dietary restriction has anti-cancer effects but the 'why and how' are not well understood. Our new study reveals one way this relationship may work: by providing T cells, the soldiers of the immune system, with the right mix of nutrients to more effectively fight cancer," said Russell Jones, Ph.D.

Dietary restriction is an approach that reduces overall calorie intake while maintaining good nutrition.

The study, conducted in mouse models, explored a low-fat, high-protein diet given once a day with 30%–50% fewer calories than usual. The results showed this lower calorie intake promoted the formation of ketones, which act as a cellular fuel T cells use to become more effective tumor fighters. Ketones also help T cells combat cancer longer by preventing cellular exhaustion.

Ketones are metabolic by-products that are regularly produced by the liver. Ketone levels rise when glucose, a sugar that serves as the primary power source for cells, is in short supply, such as during exercise or fasting.

Earlier research by Jones's lab found that T cells often prefer ketones to glucose because ketones can "reprogram" T cells to better address threats. T cells' ability to rely on different nutrients may be a biological failsafe that boosts the immune system when resources are limited, such as when a person's appetite is suppressed during illness.

But T cells aren't the only type of cell that can harness ketones. Earlier this year, a study by VAI's Evan Lien, Ph.D., revealed that cancer cells also can use ketones to fuel their growth.

[ConservativeMind]

A diet with 30%-50% reduced calories, high in protein and low in fat, created ketones like a low carb diet would. These helped immune cells (T-cells) stay engaged and not wind up exhausted, as they normally do against cancer.

[ConservativeMind]

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List
This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

[Veto!]

Interesting, thanks.

I’m one of those people who hate to cook and forget to eat. 10 p.m. here and I just had dinner. Weigh 112 now. Never eat butter, cheese or any other saturated fat. Just organic EVOO.

Taking a friend out for her birthday lunch tomorrow. Greek restaurant she likes, and EVERYTHING will have too much salt.

[WASCWatch]

I was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer 11 years ago. Average life expectancy is 4-7 years. My oncologist tells me I’ll very likely never die from prostate cancer. Don’t eat much ice cream and have cut out almost all sweets, but still eat meat and potatoes, and other comfort foods.

I am currently on a 1/2 dosage of Xtandi; that’s it and my PSA is undetectable

[Mr. Blond]

Sugar fuels cancer cells, or so I’ve heard.

[Tunehead54]

Health-Cancer file Bumper