Ever since I was a kid, yogurt has served as one of my favorite foods. Except for only a few flavors, I love just about any kind of yogurt out there. It is a great source of protein and pairs well with many different kinds of fruits. And according to the results of a recent study, yogurt may help reduce the risk of developing colon cancer.
The study was conducted by researchers affiliated with various health and academic institutions in the United States and Japan. The findings from the study were published in the academic journal Gut Microbes.
“Evidence suggests a tumor-suppressive effect of the intake of yogurt, which typically contains Bifidobacterium. We hypothesized that long-term yogurt intake might be associated with colorectal cancer incidence differentially by tumor subgroups according to the amount of tissue Bifidobacterium.” the researchers stated in their study.
“During follow-up of 132,056 individuals, we documented 3,079 incident colorectal cancer cases, including 1,121 with available tissue Bifidobacterium data. The association between long-term yogurt intake and colorectal cancer incidence differed by Bifidobacterium abundance (P heterogeneity = 0.0002).” the researchers also stated.
“Long-term yogurt intake may be differentially associated with the incidence of proximal colon cancer according to Bifidobacterium abundance, suggesting the antitumor effect of yogurt intake on the specific tumor subgroup.” the study’s authors concluded.
As with all studies, the results of this one are not the final word on the matter but are definitely worth considering. A word of caution – always be mindful and careful when talking to people about cancer. People suffering from cancer, or suspect that they may be developing cancer, are already going through enough, and having to deal with insensitive commentary from friends and family is not helpful, even if the friends and family’s hearts are in the right place.
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