Diet and other metabolic approaches for patients with glioblastoma multiforme

The importance of a holistic approach during therapies for challenging diseases is supported by a variety of sources. While aggressive surgery, when feasible, followed by chemo-radiation and then chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with GBM, diet and nutrition might be important supportive measures to improve treatment efficacy. In this chapter, we will review the rationale and results of caloric restriction and ketogenic diet, the use of cannabinoids, and anti-cholesterol drugs. Finally, the effects of different nutrients on GBM cells and patients with GBM are reviewed. Our knowledge of metabolic effects of diet, cannabinoids, and other nutritional supplements continues to expand with promising results. Further studies, however, are still necessary to translate these results to the clinical setting.