Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31258628›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in medical oncology2019

Ketogenic diet treatment as adjuvant to standard treatment of glioblastoma multiforme: a feasibility and safety study.

Elles J T M van der Louw, Joanne F Olieman, Patricia M L A van den Bemt, Jacoline E C Bromberg, Esther Oomen-de Hoop, Rinze F Neuteboom, Coriene E Catsman-Berrevoets, Arnaud J P E Vincent

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In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in medical oncology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 61 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
61citing papers in PubMed, 8 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

61 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Efficacy and safety of ketogenic diet in glioblastoma: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
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1 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Elles J T M van der LouwDepartment of Dietetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, Rotterdam, Zuid Holland 3015 GD, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3245-0471
Joanne F OliemanDepartment of Dietetics Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Patricia M L A van den BemtDepartment of Hospital Pharmacy, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jacoline E C BrombergDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Esther Oomen-de HoopDepartment of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Rinze F NeuteboomDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Coriene E Catsman-BerrevoetsDepartment of Neurology, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Arnaud J P E VincentDepartment of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHigh-grade glioma cells consume mainly glucose and cannot compensate for glucose restriction. Apoptosis may potentially occur under carbohydrate restriction by a ketogenic diet (KD). We explored the feasibility and safety of KD during standard treatment of chemoradiation in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

methodsA full liquid KD induced ketosis within 2 weeks before start of chemoradiation. After 6 weeks, the KD was modified with solid foods and medium-chain-triglyceride emulsions and used for an additional 6 weeks while maintaining ketosis. During the total study period (14 weeks), feasibility, safety, coping (both patient and partner), quality of life (QoL), neurological functioning and impairment were measured. Overall survival was analyzed with actuarial estimates.

resultsEleven patients started the study protocol, nine reached ketosis and six (67%) completed the study. Severe adverse effects did not occur. The majority of coping scores ranged from 3 to 6 on a 10-point scale at all timepoints; QoL, neurological functioning, and impairment did not essentially change over time; overall survival ranged between 9.8 and 19.0 months.

conclusionKD was feasible and safe as an adjuvant to standard chemoradiation treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. A supportive partner and intensive counseling were essential for coping. Future research should identify possible beneficial effects on overall survival. CLINICAL

trial registrationNetherlands Trial Registry: NTR5167 (registration date 29-01-2015), http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/index.asp.

Indexed as

adjuvant therapybrain tumorcopingmetabolic therapyside effects

Identifiers

PMID31258628
PMCPMC6589986

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.