What is a Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet?
Description of treatment method
In order to slow the progression of a GI cancer, patients are advised to switch to a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet.
Inventor
Unknown. The treatment is well known in the field of complementary and alternative medicine.
Theory
There are a number of theoretical potentials for a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet to influence the development of gastro-intestinal cancer (ref 1). Lacto-ovo vegetarians consume more fibre and antioxidants when compared to meat eaters. They also consume more phytochemicals (special compounds found in plants). Many phytochemicals have a wide range of protective effects in the human body. They help to detoxify carcinogens, stimulate the immune system, regulate cell growth (which helps to fight cancer), and reduce some of the harmful effects of excessive exposure to hormones.
Vegetarians do not eat red meat. Red meat stimulates the production of mutation-causing compounds in the colon and is linked to increased damage to DNA.
Claims by the inventor
It is claimed that switching to a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet will slow the progression of GI cancer.
Treatment
The treatment involves the elimination of all fish, other sea foods, poultry and red meat from the diet. Intake of milk and other dairy products and eggs is permitted.
Providers
Self-treatment.
Prevalence of use
The exact extent of use in GI cancer patients is unknown, but it was reported in 1988 that 11% of Canadian colon cancer patients had used diet as a treatment (ref 2). Some of the diets used implied lacto-ovo vegetarianism.
Legal issues
Non-applicable.
Costs
The cost of adopting a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet will vary between countries. In general, the cost is not much different from the local common diet.
References
1. Hubbard RW, Mejia A, Horning M. The potential of diet to alter disease processes. Nutr Res. 1994;14:1853-95.
2. Tough SC, Johnston DW, Verhoef MJ, Arthur K, Bryant H. Complementary and alternative medicine use among colorectal cancer patients in Alberta, Canada. Altern Ther Health Med 2002;8:54-+.
