Might a strictly controlled way of eating be a powerful therapeutic tool for hard-to-treat neurological conditions? That is what Waikato-based Matthew Phillips is working to find out.
Phillips, who describes himself as a metabolic neurologist, is partway through a clinical trial among people with glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain tumour. It is early days yet, but he remains hopeful that the treatment will result in a longer and healthier life for participants.
The regimelive mostly on water and salt, supplemented with the odd black tea or coffee. This is timed to coincide with chemotherapy treatment. The rest of the time they eat one or two very low carbohydrate meals a day, with the aim of keeping them in ketosis.