EAT YOUR YOGURT . HERR SVENSON

Microbiome and their importance in the general health maintenance is receiving an enormous attention among the research scientists. Since they reside in the Colon, the effect of Yogurt, a fermented food, capable of changing the Microbiome composition, to decrease the risk of adenoma is of great interest.

July 1, 2019

Eat Your Yogurt

Charles J. Kahi, MD, MS reviewing Zheng X et al. Gut 2019 Jun 17

Men who consumed at least two servings per week had decreased risk for adenomas.

Yogurt consumption has been associated with lower colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, but its relation to polyp risk is unknown. To investigate this issue, researchers assessed yogurt consumption and risk for conventional adenomas and serrated lesions among nearly 90,000 participants in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and Nurses' Health Study. The analyses were adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors, and dietary information was updated every 4 years.

Men who consumed ≥2 yogurt servings/week had significantly lower risk for conventional adenomas compared with nonconsumers (adjusted odds ratio, 0.81). The association was stronger for high-risk adenomas (≥1 cm or with villous component or high-grade/severe dysplasia, or ≥3 adenomas), for which the risk reduction was 26%, and for colon adenomas compared with rectal adenomas. No association was seen for serrated lesions, except for large (≥1 cm) lesions (aOR, 0.48). In women, there were no associations between yogurt consumption and either conventional adenomas or serrated lesions.

COMMENT

Yogurt may exert its beneficial effects in CRC prevention by a variety of mechanisms, including favorable microbiome alterations. Regular consumption of yogurt may be a marker of other healthy lifestyle factors that decrease the risk for CRC and its precursor lesions. The lack of benefits observed in women, however, is not clear. In any case, the regular consumption of yogurt is a reasonable recommendation to help decrease CRC risk, in addition to healthy eating habits, exercise, and avoidance of smoking.