Roles of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Colon Cancer Prevention: Postulated Mechanisms and In-vivo Evidence
2008

Probiotics and Prebiotics in Colon Cancer Prevention

publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Liong Min-Tze

Primary Institution: Universiti Sains Malaysia

Hypothesis

Can probiotics and prebiotics help prevent colon cancer?

Conclusion

Probiotics and prebiotics may help prevent colon cancer through various mechanisms, but some studies show inconsistent results.

Supporting Evidence

  • Probiotics can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria that may cause cancer.
  • Prebiotics help produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids that protect against colon cancer.
  • Synbiotics, a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, have shown enhanced protective effects.

Takeaway

Eating good bacteria (probiotics) and special fibers (prebiotics) might help keep our tummies healthy and stop cancer from growing.

Methodology

The review discusses various studies on the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on colon cancer prevention.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to varying dietary habits and the complexity of cancer mechanisms.

Limitations

Inconsistent data from in-vivo trials and variations in study designs and probiotic strains.

Participant Demographics

Demographic variations in colon cancer survival rates were noted, with differences across regions.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3390/ijms9050854

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