Can we eat yogurt reduces the risk of pre-cancerous growth in men

Yogurt consumption may reduce the risk of precancerous growth, called adenoma, preceding the onset of bowel cancer in humans, according to a new study published June 17 in the journal Gut (1 ).

Researchers from the Univerity of Washington in the United States examined diets and determined whether different types of adenomas were developed by men and women: data on 32,606 men included in the study on health professionals and 55,743 women on the study on the health of nurses. .

All patients underwent intestinal endoscopy between 1986 and 2012. This procedure allows the surgeon to examine the inside of the digestive tract. And among the patients, 5811 adenomas in men and 8,116 in women were found. The data also included detailed lifestyle and diet information, including yoghurt consumption.

But it is interesting to note that researchers found that men who consumed more than 2 servings a week had a lower risk of adenoma. Specifically, 19% less likely and even higher (26%) adenomas most likely to develop cancer. No clear correlation was found in men with the potentially more dangerous type of adenoma, known as jagged, except in the case of large adenomas, of 1 cm or more .

It is important to note that the study is observational and therefore it is not possible to determine the cause of this association. Further research is still needed to confirm the findings and elucidate the underlying biological mechanisms that may result in gender differences and anatomical localization in the intestine. The authors suggest that the large size of the study and the amount of data involved weigh heavily in the results.

Yogurt consumption is known to positively alter bacteria in the gut, both type microbes and volume, and could even reduce the risk of bowel cancer, according to previous studies. In addition, researchers add that two of the bacteria that are commonly found in live yogurt – Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus – can reduce the number of carcinogenic chemicals in the intestines.

The results suggest that the association could be the strongest for so-called adenomas located in the colon rather than in the rectum. It may be because this part of the intestine has a lower pH (more acidic), which creates a more hospitable environment for these bacteria. The researchers also added that yogurt, which could have anti-inflammatory properties, could reduce the increase in intestinal permeability associated with adenomas.

So, does eating two or more servings of yogurt a week can prevent cancer of the gut? Maybe not. And too much good things can also have negative effects. Another recent study has shown that probiotics – "good bacteria" – including those found in yogurt, can become ineffective or even harmful in the human gut. Nevertheless, the results, like these and others, underscore the importance of diet for our overall health.

(1) Zheng, X. et al. Yogurt consumption and the risk of conventional and serrated precursors of colorectal cancer. Gut (2019). DOI: 10.1136 / gutjnl-2019-318374