Probiotics impact intestinal microbiota in colon cancer patients, notes study

A recent study, performed by the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg in Gothenburg, Sweden, in collaboration with DuPont Nutrition & Health (DuPont), has demonstrated that probiotics can positively change intestinal microbiota in patients with colon cancer.

The underlying reasoning behind the study is that the human gut microbiota in essence has the potential to affect overall health as it is a contributing factor to metabolism and interacts with the immune system. Other studies have shown that the gut microbiome is dysbiotic or abnormal in patients with gastrointestinal disorders.

In this new study, backed by DuPont, the researchers found that the composition and diversity of the microbiota was changed in the tumour tissue and surrounding mucosa in the biopsy samples they had taken from colon cancer patients when compared with control samples. Additionally, this altered microbiota was affected when probiotic intervention was employed — demonstrated by an increase in butyrate producing bacteria, which has been shown to suppress the growth of colon cancer cells.

“Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the top three cancers diagnosed globally each year, and the risk of colorectal cancer is strongly correlated to lifestyle factors such as diet,” said Ashley Hibberd, staff associate investigator, DuPont Nutrition & Health. “The results of our study show that the risk component from diet may be mediated by the microbiota, and that the specific probiotic strains used in this study have the potential to support the microbiota in a beneficial way.”

“The CRC-associated microbiota is being continuously defined as new biomarkers of CRC are discovered,” added Yvonne Wettergren, PhD, the Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg. “The microbial dysbiosis observed in patients with CRC may be manipulated by probiotic bacteria if protected by the ProBion matrix, and the probiotic strains used in this study show promise as a beneficial component of enhancing the microbiome in CRC.”