Cancer that begins in the colon or rectum area is commonly referred to as colorectal cancer. This form of cancer impacts men and women and it is the third most prevalent form of cancer worldwide. In the United States, more than 100,000 new cases of colon or rectal cancer present in a given year, with more than half this number resulting in cancer-related death, notes the National Cancer Institute. Probiotics may serve to prevent or inhibit the progression of colon cancer.
About Colon Cancer
The digestive system includes your colon, which makes up the first four to five feet of the large intestine and your rectum, which is the last portion of the large intestine. After removing water and nutrients from partially digested food, your colon processes the rest of the unused food into waste, and then passes it into the rectum for elimination out of your body. Cellular mutations can form in the colon resulting in cancerous tumors or polyps, protruding growths on the inner wall of the colon or rectum. The exact cause of colorectal cancer development is not fully understood but controllable risk factors like diet and lifestyle habits play a part.
Microorganisms and Good Bacteria
Your intestines are host to trillions of microorganisms, mostly in the form of good bacteria. The good bacteria serves a variety of functions, including aiding in food digestion, stimulating the growth of healthy cells and fighting off bad bacteria that enters your body. A healthy body produces good bacteria naturally, and fiber-filled foods can boost this process because fiber is necessary to nourish good bacteria. Your natural stores of good bacteria can become compromised by poor dietary habits, excessive use of antibiotic medications or constant exposure to carcinogens. Nourishing the good bacteria is essential for reducing your risk of colon cancer.
Probiotics
Probiotics are a supplemental form of living microorganism, or good bacteria, added to foods or dietary supplements to improve stores of intestinal bacteria. Supplemental probiotics are similar to the good bacteria your body already has. Foods containing probiotics include dairy, juice and soy products. Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium are commonly added to foods and indicated as such on product labels. Regular consumption of probiotic-containing foods may have a protective role for inhibiting colon cancer.
Prevention and Treatment
According to a 2008 review in the "World Journal of Gastroenterology," in vitro animal studies evidence use of probiotics as a potential preventative for colon cancer onset and in treating existing cancerous tumors. Human studies are limited, but ongoing. Reduce your risk of colon cancer with healthy dietary measures like increasing your daily fiber consumption to nourish existing good bacteria, limit foods high in saturated fat like red meat or fried foods, and avoid smoking. As you age, your risk of colon cancer increases. Take preventive steps like attending physical health exams to get screened for polyps or tumors that may exist but do not cause symptoms.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Cancer of the Colon and Rectum
- Cancer Active; Probiotics and Colorectal Cancer; 2002
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; Protective Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Colon Cancer; Ingrid Wollowski et al; February 2001
- World Journal of Gastroenterology; Role of Probiotics, Prebiotics and Synbiotics in Chemoprevention For Colorectal Cancer; Constantine losif Fotiadis et al; November 14, 2008
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; An Introduction to Probiotics; January 2007
- Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology; High Fiber Diet; Frank W. Jackson, M.D.; 2010
