How Metabolic Health Shapes Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Unlocking the Power of Diet, Mitochondria, and Lifestyle to Fight Cancer at Its Root
Cancer remains one of the most challenging health issues worldwide, with over 1.9 million new cancer cases and more than 600,000 cancer deaths projected in the U.S. alone in 2025 (1). While the billion-dollar cancer industry continues to invest heavily in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation—treatments that primarily target the tumor itself—these conventional approaches overlook a crucial factor: the underlying metabolic environment that allows cancer to thrive in the first place.
According to recent estimates, the global oncology drug market alone is projected to surpass $289 billion by 2030 (2). Yet despite this massive investment, the five-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined remains around 69% in the U.S., and much lower for certain types such as pancreatic or brain cancer (1).These sobering statistics highlight the need to look beyond tumor reduction and toward addressing the metabolic terrain that fuels cancer growth.
Emerging research and clinical experience suggest that cancer is not just a genetic or localized disease, but often has metabolic roots. Insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction all play significant roles in cancer development. By addressing these root causes, we can enhance both cancer prevention and the effectiveness of conventional treatment.
At Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine (DSHM), we offer patients a more comprehensive approach to cancer prevention and support. Here's how optimizing metabolic health can be the missing link in the fight against cancer.
The Metabolic Theory of Cancer: A New Perspective
What Is the Metabolic Theory of Cancer?
The metabolic theory of cancer, first proposed by Dr. Otto Warburg, challenges the notion that cancer is purely genetic. Warburg discovered that cancer cells generate energy differently than healthy cells. Instead of using oxygen in the mitochondria to efficiently produce energy (aerobic respiration), cancer cells rely heavily on sugar fermentation (glycolysis), even when oxygen is present—a phenomenon known as the Warburg Effect (3,4).
How the Warburg Effect Fuels Cancer Growth
This abnormal energy production leads to:
Excessive Glycolysis: Cancer cells are sugar-hungry and use fermentation to meet their energy needs, making them highly dependent on glucose.
Acidic, Anaerobic Environment: Fermentation creates lactic acid, leading to acidity in the tumor microenvironment—a condition in which cancer thrives.
Increased Insulin and IGF-1 Levels: Elevated insulin levels, often from poor diet and lifestyle, promote cell proliferation and inflammation, feeding cancer growth.
High Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Free radical damage and chronic inflammation further mutate cells and weaken immune surveillance.
Root Causes: How Metabolic Disease Contributes to Cancer
Metabolic dysfunction is largely driven by lifestyle and environmental factors. Let’s break down the major contributors:
Insulin Resistance and Blood Sugar Imbalance
Insulin resistance isn’t just a diabetes issue—it’s a cancer risk. Elevated insulin and glucose create a biological environment that promotes rapid cellular growth and proliferation. High blood sugar essentially becomes cancer’s fuel source. (5)
Chronic Inflammation’s Role in Cancer Development
Inflammation is a defense mechanism, but when it becomes chronic, it fosters an environment ripe for cancer initiation and progression (6) Processed foods, environmental toxins, hidden infections, and unmanaged stress are common triggers.
Oxidative Stress and Free Radical Damage
Oxidative stress happens when free radicals overwhelm your antioxidant defenses. This imbalance leads to DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and cell mutation—all major contributors to cancer. (7)
Poor Diet and Nutrient Deficiencies
A diet high in refined sugars, processed foods, and industrialized seed oils promotes inflammation and metabolic breakdown (8). Nutrient deficiencies—like low magnesium, vitamin D (9), omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants—leave the body more vulnerable to cancer. (10,11)
Zooming In: How Ketogenic Diets and Fasting Can Starve Cancer Cells
Why Ketogenic Diets Work Against Cancer
You may have heard about ketogenic diets or intermittent fasting in the context of weight loss—but their power goes far beyond that. These strategies are showing promise as metabolic therapies that can impact how cancer cells behave and grow. (12,13)
Here’s why:
Cancer cells are glucose-dependent and struggle to use fat or ketones as fuel.
When you fast or eat a very low-carb ketogenic diet, your body shifts into ketosis—a state where it burns fat for energy instead of glucose.
This metabolic shift deprives cancer cells of their favorite food—sugar—while nourishing healthy cells with ketones.
Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting also helps:
Lower insulin and IGF-1 levels (which fuel cancer growth) (14)
Reduce inflammation
Support autophagy (cellular cleanup), helping your body remove damaged cells (15)
Always consult a practitioner before starting a fasting or keto protocol—especially if you’re undergoing cancer treatment. At DSHM, we guide patients with personalized plans based on lab markers, goals, and overall health status.
Mitochondrial Health: The Cellular Power Shift That Matters
Why Mitochondria Are Key to Cancer Prevention
At the core of the metabolic theory of cancer is one key player: the mitochondria—your cells' energy factories.
When mitochondria are working well, your cells make clean, efficient energy (ATP) using oxygen. But in many cancer cells, this machinery is damaged, and they switch to an inefficient backup system: fermenting glucose, even when oxygen is available. That’s the Warburg Effect. (1,16)
How to Support Mitochondrial Health
Supporting mitochondrial health is critical for preventing this shift. At DSHM, we help patients:
Optimize mitochondrial nutrients like CoQ10, magnesium, B vitamins, carnitine, and alpha-lipoic acid (17,18)
Improve oxygenation through breathwork, ozone therapy, red light therapy, and movement
Reduce oxidative stress that damages mitochondria in the first place
A healthy mitochondria means a resilient, cancer-resistant internal terrain.
What to Test: Key Labs That Reveal Your Metabolic Risk
Essential Lab Tests for Metabolic Health
Many of our patients feel empowered when they see real data about their metabolic health. These lab tests go far beyond a basic checkup—they help identify hidden risks and guide targeted interventions.
Fasting Insulin: Early warning for insulin resistance—even if blood sugar is normal
Hemoglobin A1c: Long-term blood sugar control over the past 3 months
hs-CRP: Inflammation marker linked to heart disease and cancer
Homocysteine: Reflects methylation status and cardiovascular risk
LDH (Lactate Dehydrogenase): A marker tied to cellular stress and cancer activity
Vitamin D3: Vital for immune function and cancer prevention
Omega-3/6 Ratio: High omega-6 (inflammatory fats) can fuel metabolic dysfunction
Ferritin: Elevated in inflammation and can promote oxidative stress
Uric Acid: Linked to metabolic syndrome and inflammation
Triglyceride/HDL Ratio: Strong marker for insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk
GGT (Gamma-glutamyl transferase): Marker of oxidative stress and liver detox function
Thyroid Panel (TSH, FT3/FT4, RT3, Anti-TPO, Anti-TBG): Thyroid dysfunction can impair metabolism and immune surveillance
Advanced Testing Options
Want to know where you stand? Depending on your unique case, we offer other comprehensive functional lab panels that help you see the full picture and take action early.
These may include:
Advanced lipid particle analysis (such as ApoB and LDL-P) for deeper cardiovascular risk insights
DUTCH hormone testing to assess adrenal health, cortisol patterns, and sex hormone imbalances
Stool testing to uncover gut dysbiosis, pathogens, parasites, and immune function status
Organic Acids Testing (OAT) to evaluate mitochondrial function, neurotransmitter balance, and nutrient deficiencies
Mycotoxin testing to detect exposure to toxic mold compounds that may suppress immunity and fuel chronic illness
Food sensitivity panels to identify delayed immune responses that contribute to systemic inflammation and gut permeability
Environmental toxin panels to screen for heavy metals, pesticides, and endocrine disruptors that burden your detox pathways
These tests allow us to craft truly personalized protocols that address your unique biology and optimize your terrain for cancer prevention and whole-body health.
Supporting Metabolic Health: Strategies for Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Practical Steps to Optimize Your Terrain
Our approach at DSHM includes:
Low-Glycemic, Anti-Inflammatory Diet: Whole foods, healthy fats, lean proteins, and fiber-rich vegetables to balance blood sugar and calm inflammation.
Intermittent Fasting or Ketogenic Diet: Used strategically to reduce insulin levels and deprive cancer cells of glucose.
Targeted Nutritional Supplementation: Based on lab results to correct deficiencies and support mitochondria, immunity, and detox pathways.
Detoxification: Reducing toxic burden from pesticides, plastics, heavy metals, and other endocrine disruptors.
Stress Management & Sleep Optimization: Mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and proper sleep hygiene support immune function and reduce inflammation.
The Gut-Cancer Connection: Why Your Microbiome Matters
How Gut Health Influences Cancer Risk
Here’s a surprising fact: about 70% of your immune system lives in your gut. And that same gut microbiome influences everything from inflammation to metabolism to your body’s ability to detox. (19)
An imbalanced gut (called dysbiosis) has been linked to:
Chronic inflammation
Poor blood sugar regulation
Increased cancer risk, especially in the colon, breast, and liver
Restoring Gut Balance
At DSHM, we evaluate gut health through advanced stool testing, then build personalized protocols using probiotics, prebiotics, herbal antimicrobials, and gut-healing nutrients.
Integrating Functional Medicine for Cancer Prevention at DSHM
Our Comprehensive Approach
Functional medicine addresses each patient’s unique risk factors through:
Comprehensive Lab Testing
Personalized Nutritional & Lifestyle Planning
Gut and Detox Support
Metabolic Coaching and Cancer Adjunctive Care
Whether you’re seeking prevention or supportive care during treatment, we focus on helping you build a strong metabolic foundation.
A New Path for Cancer Prevention and Metabolic Health
Your Path to Cancer Prevention Starts Here
At Denver Sports and Holistic Medicine, we believe that preventing cancer begins with one powerful shift: optimizing your metabolic health from the ground up. Our holistic approach looks beyond the tumor to address the full picture—nutrition, lifestyle, environmental exposures, stress, and more—so your body can become a place where cancer struggles to grow.
Whether you're focused on prevention or navigating an existing diagnosis, we're here to guide and empower you every step of the way.
Near or far? We've got you covered. Whether you're in Colorado, across the U.S., or abroad, we offer virtual telemedicine consultations to support your health journey—wherever you are.
Take the first step toward a proactive, personalized approach to cancer prevention.
Request a free consultation with Dr. Martina Sturm today.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Metabolic Health Shapes Cancer Prevention and Treatment
What is metabolic cancer?
Metabolic cancer refers to the understanding that cancer is primarily a disease of disrupted cellular metabolism rather than solely a genetic disorder. In this model, cancer cells rely heavily on glucose and glutamine for energy due to impaired mitochondrial function, making them metabolically inflexible compared to healthy cells.
How does cancer metabolism differ from normal cell metabolism?
Healthy cells primarily generate energy through mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Cancer cells, by contrast, often depend on aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect), even in the presence of oxygen. This metabolic shift allows rapid growth but creates vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically targeted.
Can cancer be influenced by metabolic interventions?
Yes. Metabolic strategies such as ketogenic nutrition, fasting protocols, insulin reduction, mitochondrial support, and inflammation control may help create an internal environment that is less favorable for cancer growth. These approaches are used as complementary strategies alongside conventional care, not replacements.
Is cancer caused by sugar?
Cancer is not “caused” by sugar, but elevated glucose and insulin levels can fuel cancer growth and signaling pathways. Chronically high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction increase cancer risk and may worsen outcomes.
What is the Warburg effect?
The Warburg effect describes cancer cells’ preference for fermenting glucose into lactate for energy, even when oxygen is available. This inefficient energy process supports rapid growth and survival but reflects underlying mitochondrial dysfunction.
Can fasting or ketogenic diets starve cancer?
Certain cancers appear metabolically dependent on glucose. Fasting and ketogenic strategies can lower glucose and insulin while increasing ketones, which healthy cells can use efficiently but many cancer cells cannot. These strategies must be personalized and medically supervised.
Is metabolic cancer therapy safe during conventional treatment?
When appropriately supervised, metabolic therapies can often be safely integrated with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy. Timing, nutritional status, body composition, and treatment goals must be carefully considered to avoid unintended stress or weight loss.
Does metabolic health affect cancer prevention?
Yes. Insulin resistance, obesity, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and poor metabolic flexibility are all associated with increased cancer risk. Optimizing metabolic health is a powerful long-term prevention strategy.
What role do mitochondria play in cancer?
Mitochondria regulate energy production, apoptosis, immune signaling, and oxidative balance. When mitochondrial function is impaired, cells shift toward fermentation-based metabolism, a hallmark of cancerous behavior.
Is metabolic cancer therapy the same for everyone?
No. Cancer type, stage, genetics, metabolic status, hormonal environment, and treatment history all influence the appropriate strategy. A personalized, systems-based approach is essential.
Resources
American Cancer Society – Cancer Facts & Figures 2025
Market Research Report – Global Oncology Cancer Drugs Market Revenue Projected To Surpass $289 Billion By 2030
PMC – The Warburg Effect: How Does It Benefit Cancer Cells?
National Cancer Institute (NCI) – New Clarity on the Warburg Effect
PubMed – Physical Activity, Insulin Resistance, and Cancer: A Systematic Review
PMC – Inflammation and Cancer
PMC – Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Cancer: How Are They Linked?
PMC – Nutrition and Cancer: A Review of the Evidence for an Anti-Cancer Diet
National Cancer Institute (NCI) – Vitamin D and Cancer
National Cancer Institute (NCI) – Risk Factors: Diet
PMC – Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cancer-Related Complications
PMC – Ketogenic Diets and Cancer: Emerging Evidence
ScienceDirect – Ketogenic Diet as a Treatment and Prevention Strategy for Cancer: A Therapeutic Alternative
ScienceDirect – The Influence of Fasting and Energy-Restricting Diets on IGF-1 Levels in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Institut Pasteur – Intermittent Fasting: Cellular Cleansing to Improve Health?
PubMed – Understanding the Warburg Effect: The Metabolic Requirements of Cell Proliferation
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements – Dietary Supplements for Primary Mitochondrial Disorders: Health Professional Fact Sheet
ScienceDirect – The Role of Coenzyme Q10 as a Preventive and Therapeutic Agent for the Treatment of Cancers
PMC – Gut Microbiota and Cancer: From Pathogenesis to Therapy