Isabella Cooper (University of Westminster) outlines the standards needed for rigorous ketogenic metabolic therapy (KMT) studies and explains how ketosis may regulate key growth pathways linked to cancer. She stresses that metabolic dysfunction isn’t limited to obesity—many lean individuals have chronically high insulin levels. Cooper recommends evening ketone testing (≥3 hours post-meal) over several days to detect subtle hyperinsulinemia and insists that true ketosis must be endogenous, not from supplements. Mechanistically, she connects excess insulin to ceramide buildup, mitochondrial damage, reactive oxygen species, and overstimulated growth signaling that suppresses normal cell death.

Her trial followed 10 healthy, long-term keto-adapted women across three phases: baseline keto, 21 days of high-carb intake per UK guidelines (~267 g/day), and a return to keto. Compliance exceeded 93%. Insulin and IGF-1 fell significantly in ketosis, while major growth factors (VEGF, EGF, MCP-1, leptin) dropped and inflammatory cytokines stayed unchanged. Other markers—cortisol, thyroid, and respiratory quotient—suggested metabolic stability and efficient energy use. Cooper concludes that well-controlled ketogenic states can downregulate the very growth signals driving tumor progression, offering a drug-free way to modulate cancer-related metabolism.