Dhaka, Oct. 7 -- A ketogenic diet may increase the growth of small intestinal tumours while suppressing colon tumours, a study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers has found in genetically engineered mice.

The findings, published in journal Nature, showed that cancer-prone mice given a ketogenic diet developed small intestinal tumours more often than those on a control diet, despite not becoming obese, ScienceDaily reports.

The team found that ketone bodies such as beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) were not driving the tumour growth.

Instead, the effect was linked to increased fatty acid oxidation, which activates proteins known as PPARs and prompts intestinal stem cells to divide more rapidly.

Omer Yilmaz, senior autho...