High colonic pH promotes colorectal cancer.
Considerable evidence suggests that the carcinogens or co-carcinogens responsible for the development of colorectal cancer are either bacterially degraded bile acids or cholesterol. It is proposed that a high colonic pH promotes co-carcinogen formation from these substances and that acidification of the colon either by dietary fibre (following its bacterial digestion to short-chain fatty acids) or milk (in lactose-intolerant individuals) may prevent this process.
D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003043:Cocarcinogenesis; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002784:Cholesterol