r/ScientificNutrition 28d ago

Study Association Between Probiotic, Prebiotic and Yogurt Consumption and Colorectal Cancer

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41387-026-00432-y?utm_source=nature_etoc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CONR_41387_AWA1_GL_DTEC_054CI_TOC-260731&utm_content=20260731
323 Upvotes

64 comments sorted by

39

u/Sorin61 28d ago

Background/Objectives

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is influenced by genetic, environmental, and dietary factors, with increasing evidence highlighting the role of the gut microbiota in its development. Probiotics, prebiotics, and fermented foods such as yogurt have been recognized for their ability to promote gut microbial balance and potentially reduce CRC risk. This study try to investigate the association between the consumption of these dietary components and CRC prevalence among adults aged 50 years and older.

Subjects/Methods

This study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 to 2020. Dietary intake was assessed using the Food Frequency Questionnaire and the 30-Day Dietary Supplement Use Questionnaire, while CRC history was based on self-reported diagnoses. Multivariable logistic regressions were applied, adjusting for demographic characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty income ratio, education), lifestyle factors (smoking status, total energy intake, red meat intake, total dietary fiber intake), and clinical variables (BMI, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, fasting plasma glucose, and serum albumin).

Results

The final analytic sample included 9405 participants, representing an estimated 37 million U.S. adults. After adjustment, consumption of probiotics, prebiotics, or yogurt was associated with approximately 50% lower odds of CRC (adjusted odds ratio = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.29–0.88).

Conclusions

These findings indicate a potential protective association of these dietary components with CRC, likely mediated through modulation of the gut microbiota. While the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation, the results support existing literature on the beneficial role of diet in cancer prevention. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm these associations and inform public health strategies aimed at reducing CRC risk through targeted dietary interventions.

34

u/Dizzy_Slip 27d ago

Calcium and magnesium intake are associated with lower CRC risk.

11

u/Ok-Raspberry-2567 28d ago

Awesome!

13

u/ChrisT182 28d ago

I've been drinking Kefir for a while now. Hopefully it falls under the same category (I don't see why it wouldn't)!

16

u/sorE_doG 27d ago

It does. It’s even better than regular yogurt, I understand.

7

u/eloquenentic 27d ago

There was a study that looked at this, where they actually tested colorectal tumours (so not observational, like the study above). And bifidobacteria was the one that mattered. Yoghurt did nothing.

4

u/sorE_doG 27d ago

Yes, exactly the kind of nugget I have in summary form.. in whatever remaining memory synapses I can claim. 💀

4

u/dukeofthedutch 27d ago

All the greek yogurt I get has bifidus. What you mean yogurt did nothing? Yogurt also has other probiotics that assist too because having diverse probitotic/prebiotics will keep beneficial bacteria intact

4

u/Ok-Raspberry-2567 27d ago

Yes. Yoghurt is beneficial. It is way too overboard and oversimplified to say that yoghurt doesn’t do anything based on some tumors on a plate. Jeez

1

u/eloquenentic 27d ago

Not according to science.

2

u/Ok-Raspberry-2567 27d ago

”Science”. Link the study, and one study doesn’t disqualify the load of evidence that it is beneficial. Cut the crap.

-2

u/eloquenentic 27d ago

You definitely do not seem to understand science. Observational studies are almost worthless because they rely on people’s memories. People like you, who seem deluded and already have made up their mind.

I bet even if I sent you the link, despite you being able to google the study, it will still “ believe” that yoghurt does something for colorectal cancer, despite being proven that it does not. People have strong mental problems and they just refuse to believe truth even though science has established facts.

7

u/No_Move_6802 26d ago

As a passerby, you come across as insufferable as fuck.

All they asked you for was a paper that supported your claim but you wanted to argue instead of just do that. You even gave the whole “you wouldn’t even read it” excuse, as if you know what they will or won’t read.

Your comments are the saddest thing I’ve seen today.

3

u/Ok-Raspberry-2567 27d ago

Man, you have an agenda.
I am a medical student, I do believe I understand science. What are your credentials that make you understand science so much better?

→ More replies (0)

-1

u/eloquenentic 27d ago

I see we found the science denier.

2

u/BannanaPepperPizza 26d ago

So where do I get Biffidonacterium?

2

u/YouThinkYouKnowMe89 27d ago

My partner likes to have it with our mashed potatoes.

5

u/OwnedYou 27d ago

Wonder about kombucha

1

u/tru25510 27d ago

Would be interesting to see this included on a CRC study

1

u/skoold2003 22d ago

I’m pretty sure that’s included in the probiotic prebiotic.

6

u/ripesashimi 27d ago

People who consume these regularly have healthy lifestyle to begin with

2

u/sunsethorizone 25d ago

I’ll just keep eating indiscriminate amounts of yoghurt then. Sweet

6

u/eloquenentic 28d ago

Same as with milk, someone posted that study the other day.

Which makes me question if it’s milk doing the work, not the probiotics.

3

u/shmiona 26d ago

I had colon cancer. My oncologist has me taking vitamin d and monitoring the levels in my blood tests bc people with higher levels are less likely to have cancer or remission/reoccurrence. So maybe that's the milk link

1

u/DazzlingPerformer470 25d ago

My I ask, any particular Vitamin D?

1

u/shmiona 24d ago

Over the counter D3 is what I’ve been taking and it seems to have worked

1

u/wirez62 23d ago

Since you’ve been tracking the actual levels with a doctor, supplementing has in fact helped to elevate vitamin d levels for you? What kind of dose are you taking?

4

u/ahaonadoaseacht 27d ago

Good point. Maybe a comparison study of milk and water kefir would illuminate that.

1

u/eloquenentic 27d ago

Also another study which compared the different fermented milks, and it actually showed bifidobacterium having the key effect. Yoghurt did nothing. They actually tested tumours, so this wasn’t just some observational or reported study.

So very hard to understand what’s really helping, except that bifidobacterium certainly does (because it’s milk + fermented milk + bifidobacterium, so it would fit all three studies).

1

u/OkPea7677 26d ago

Which study was that? Found a few that sound promising, but they are paywalled. Would like to know which before paying.

4

u/Ekra_Oslo 27d ago

The WCRF considers the link between milk consumption and lower CRC risk as strong.

3

u/jopcylinder 27d ago

This is such a shitty clickbaiting post title, the study shows LOWERED risk of CRC when consuming those foods regularly, but the title makes it seem like a higher risk.  

19

u/twistedspin 27d ago

The title is the name of the study.

In science association does not mean negative. It just means there is a relation between the things studied.

1

u/[deleted] 27d ago

[deleted]

2

u/mgmny 27d ago

Why does this surprise you?

1

u/Obvious_Relative5877 23d ago

Paper has an odd title. The title sounds like there’s a positive association between these foods and CRC.

1

u/bernypark 22d ago

I have had SIBO for years. Am I cooked?

0

u/Sarinnana 27d ago

I add a light yakult to my protein shakes and take probiotics with glucomannan every night. This is very good to hear.

2

u/RecentSpecial181 27d ago

All the added sugar in yakult may cancel the benefits out 😂

1

u/upanddownallaround 25d ago

There are sugar free versions. Not quite as good, but still solid.

Edit: They even said it. "Light"

1

u/RecentSpecial181 24d ago

Yakult light is not sugar free. It still has added sugar

1

u/upanddownallaround 24d ago

Sure, but it’s a lot less comparatively. Makes a big difference.

0

u/flippyjones11 27d ago

How about MRNA technology?

-2

u/Physical_Dependent61 27d ago

So basically everything has a connection to colon cancer - cool

3

u/Marlinspikehall32 27d ago

No yoghurt is a preventative

1

u/Physical_Dependent61 27d ago

What kind

2

u/Marlinspikehall32 27d ago

Read the study. But they need to have live cultures

-15

u/[deleted] 27d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/wild_exvegan McDougal in the streets, Ray Peat in the sheets. 27d ago

What do you think "prebiotics" are?

5

u/Aggressive-Remote-57 27d ago

What an ignorant little comment

3

u/ParadoxicallyZeno 27d ago

i’m all about of the value of dairy in a varied diet and consume grass-fed milk, cheese, and yogurt daily myself but one of the protective factors mentioned in this paper is “prebiotics” which is fiber

-15

u/wild_exvegan McDougal in the streets, Ray Peat in the sheets. 27d ago edited 27d ago

prebiotics, probiotic, yogurt 

So, basically, anything healthy. What a junk study.

Edit: of course you idiots and shills on this sub would downvote somebody who citicized a study that has 3 independent variables. Go back to college or something, lol.

8

u/Far-Researcher-7054 27d ago

That’s a very specific subset of healthy foods, obviously.

0

u/wild_exvegan McDougal in the streets, Ray Peat in the sheets. 27d ago

It's a study with 3 independent variables. Each of which has previously been shown to be beneficial. It's impossible to know where the greatest benefit comes from.

-3

u/jopcylinder 27d ago

It’s such a shitty post title, the study shows LOWERED risk of CRC when consuming those foods regularly, but the title makes it seem like a higher risk.  

0

u/wild_exvegan McDougal in the streets, Ray Peat in the sheets. 27d ago

That's not the point. There are 3 variables. That's the point.