Microbiome response to ketogenic diet in a mouse colorectal cancer model

In this study, a humanized gut microbiome CRC mouse model was used to investigate the causal role of the microbiome in dietary intervention in CRC. We observed that the KD reduced colonic tumor burden and induced distinct fecal microbial and metabolic profiles. Furthermore, we demonstrated the causal effect of the gut microbiome in ensuring the anti-cancer effects of the KD through the transfer of cecal content into a next set of mice undergoing the same cancer model. The ketogenic cecum recipient mice exhibited distinct fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles from standard cecum recipient mice, by maintaining acquired changes in function, despite being maintained on a standard diet throughout the experiment. In conclusion, the anticancer effects of the KD are mediated by the gut microbiome and these results have important implications for the establishment of dietary guidelines for patients suffering and recovering from CRC.