TABLE 1.

Intermittent fasting on cancer patients

Author and Year	Type of cancer	Enrolled patient details	Fasting regime	Results
Schreck et al. 46	2–4 grade astrocytoma	A total of 25 patients were recruited in an 8‐week glioma Atkins diet.	Two fasting days (calories <20% calculated estimated needs) interleaved between 5 modified Atkins diet days (net carbohydrates ≤20 g/d) each week.	Diet was generally tolerated, with only two grade 3 side effects (neutropenia and seizure) Systemic activity measurements, such as hemoglobin A1c, insulin, and fat body mass, all declined, while lean body mass increased. Higher ketone concentrations in both the lesional and contralateral brain as compared to baseline.
de Groot et al. 47	HER2‐negative breast cancer, Stage II/III	In total, 131 individuals received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.	Fasting mimicking diet 3 days before and during neoadjuvant chemotherapy	There were no differences in grade ¾ toxicity during chemotherapy between participants in the fasting and usual care groups. Miller‐Payne 4/5 pathologic response is more common in the FMD cohort. Patients who followed the FMD more closely had a more significant percentage of Miller–Payne 4/5 scores.
Zorn et al. 48	Gynecological cancers at any stage	Thirty patients receiving (neo)‐adjuvant chemotherapy for a minimum of four cycles of the same treatment	Ninety‐six‐hour fasting for half of scheduled chemotherapy cycles, followed by a regular diet for the remaining cycles	Fasting is linked to greater ketone bodies and lower insulin and IGF‐1 levels in the blood. Less stomatitis, headaches, and weakness; lower overall toxicity score; and fewer chemotherapy delays while fasting. No improvement in patient‐reported quality of life, chemotherapy‐induced neuropathy, or fatigue
Bauersfeld et al. 49	Breast and ovarian cancer at any stage	A total of 34 individuals are undergoing chemotherapy.	Patients were randomly assigned to either a short‐term fasting diet followed by a normal caloric diet or a normal caloric diet followed by a short‐term fasting diet in the first half of chemotherapy.	Within 8 hours after treatment, patients on the fasting diet reported improved quality of life and tiredness.
Marinac et al. 50	Breast cancer at an early stage	At baseline, year 1 and year 4, 2413 patients completed 24‐h dietary recalls.	Dietary recalls were utilized to calculate the length of time spent fasting at night.	Fasting for less than 13 hours per night is connected with a 36% greater risk of recurrence of breast cancer when compared to individuals fasting for ≥13 hours per night
Dorff et al. 51	Breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer at any stage	Twenty individuals are being treated with platinum‐based chemotherapy.	Fasting for 24 hours, 48 hours, or 72 hours before chemotherapy	Fasting is doable and safe. Fasting cohorts had lower incidences of neutropenia and neuropathy. Fasting cohorts have less DNA damage.
De Groot et al. 52	HER2‐negative breast cancer II/III	Thirteen patients are being treated with (neo)‐adjuvant chemotherapy.	Before and after chemotherapy, patients were randomly assigned to either a 24‐hour fast or a diet that followed appropriate dietary standards.	Fasting was well tolerated, and it decreased hematologic toxicity. Fasting may aid in the healing of DNA damage caused by chemotherapy.
Badar et al. 53	Breast, non‐Hodgkin lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia, nasopharynx, ovarian, and colon	Chemotherapy is given to 11 patients.	During Ramadan, patients received chemotherapy.	Fasting is a safe and well‐tolerated practice.
Safdie et al. 32	Breast, prostate, ovarian, uterine, non‐small cell lung, and esophagus	Ten patients who are undergoing chemotherapy	Fasting was required before (48–140 hours) and/or after (5–56 hour) treatment.	Fasting is safe and well tolerated. Fasting has been linked to decreased tiredness, weakness, and gastrointestinal side effects.