Fasting mimicking diet during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial study

Preclinical evidences suggests that while fasting can reduce the side effects and toxicity of chemotherapy, it can make cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapy. This study aimed to examine the effects of fasting mimicking diet (FMD) during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer (BC) patients. Forty-four newly diagnosed human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-negative) patients with BC were randomized equally into two groups (22 each), to receive either a fasting mimicking diet (FMD) or their regular diet for 3 days prior to and during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This FMD was repeated every 3 weeks for 8 cycles. Efficacy, toxicity, hematologic, metabolic, and inflammatory parameters were measured and compared. The occurrence of grade III vomiting and neutropenia in the control group was significantly higher than the FMD group ( =