Review dives deep into probiotics for colorectal cancer (Common probiotic cultures help)

Medical Xpress / Cactus Communications / Chinese Medical Journal ^ | Dec. 7, 2023 | Suki Ha et al

[ConservativeMind]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is expected to contribute to a burden of 3.2 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths by 2040.

The authors open by discussing how microbes can be used to prevent CRC. Probiotics, when administered appropriately, enhance the intestinal barrier, modulate the hosts' immune response, remodel the gut microbial composition, and even induce targeted cancer cell death.

The first-generation probiotics were formulations of lactic acid bacteria (LBA) from Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Bacillus, Saccharomyces, and Bifidobacterium genera. On the other hand, next-generation probiotics (NGPs) incorporate microbes such as Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium butyricum, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii.

Next, the authors discuss 'postbiotics.' Postbiotics are components derived from probiotic bacteria and protect against CRC—the most important being short-chain fatty acids.

These anti-CRC agents are in the spotlight as they do not contain live bacteria and have lower risks following consumption.

The authors further discuss several intriguing mechanisms by which probiotics can prevent CRC. According to the review, probiotics can limit the proliferation of CRC-promoting bacteria in the gut and rebalance the microbial profile. They can prevent the infiltration of harmful pathogens and restore the intestinal mucus barrier.

Probiotics can inhibit tumor proliferation and modulate the balance of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic factors, which decelerate adenoma progression to CRC. They can deactivate carcinogens and mutagens or sequester them for elimination. Moreover, the probiotic bacteria induce a powerful immuno-modulatory effect on the host by preventing the excessive accumulation of pro-inflammatory T-cells and macrophages that support the tumor microenvironment and cancer progression.

Lastly, the authors discuss how probiotics can supplement CRC chemo- and immune-therapy. They can bolster the effects of chemotherapy, overcome chemoresistance caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum, and manage dysbiosis due to drug treatment. As an adjuvant in immunotherapy, probiotics can boost the anti-tumor immune response and improve the efficacy of immunotherapy treatment.

[outinyellowdogcountry]

I got kumbacha to drink and just had my first 2 ounces. I enjoyed it! I was reading in places how much to drink daily and some said up to 12 ounces daily. That seems like a lot. Pete recommended 4 ounces I think so that is what we will do. I began with 2 ounces because other places recommend that to see how it is tolerated.

[outinyellowdogcountry]

How much do you drink daily now?

[dfwgator]

I pour Kefir over some frozen blueberries.

[cuban leaf]

How much do you drink daily now?

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None. I feel that things got back to normal in my gut and I already have a “probiotic friendly” diet.

It’s too expensive for my tastes.

However, my wife is thinking about making our own.

[erlayman]

How do you make it ? I love store bought kefir and would be interesting in experimenting with doing it myself, and in a coldish house I’ve heard the grains reproduce better than brewing with kombucha which requires like 75-80.