Dietary synbiotics reduce cancer risk factors in polypectomized and colon cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Animal studies suggest that prebiotics and probiotics exert protective effects against tumor development in the colon, but human data supporting this suggestion are weak.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to verify whether the prebiotic concept (selective interaction with colonic flora of nondigested carbohydrates) as induced by a synbiotic preparation-oligofructose-enriched inulin (SYN1) + Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 (BB12)-is able to reduce the risk of colon cancer in humans.


METHODS
The 12-wk randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a synbiotic food composed of the prebiotic SYN1 and probiotics LGG and BB12 was conducted in 37 colon cancer patients and 43 polypectomized patients. Fecal and blood samples were obtained before, during, and after the intervention, and colorectal biopsy samples were obtained before and after the intervention. The effect of synbiotic consumption on a battery of intermediate bio-markers for colon cancer was examined.


RESULTS
Synbiotic intervention resulted in significant changes in fecal flora: Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus increased and Clostridium perfringens decreased. The intervention significantly reduced colorectal proliferation and the capacity of fecal water to induce necrosis in colonic cells and improve epithelial barrier function in polypectomized patients. Genotoxicity assays of colonic biopsy samples indicated a decreased exposure to genotoxins in polypectomized patients at the end of the intervention period. Synbiotic consumption prevented an increased secretion of interleukin 2 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the polypectomized patients and increased the production of interferon gamma in the cancer patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Several colorectal cancer biomarkers can be altered favorably by synbiotic intervention.
Rafter
Joseph
J
Department of Medical Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Bennett
Michael
M
Caderni
Giovanna
G
Clune
Yvonne
Y
Hughes
Roisin
R
Karlsson
Pernilla C
PC
Klinder
Annett
A
O'Riordan
Micheal
M
O'Sullivan
Gerald C
GC
Pool-Zobel
Beatrice
B
Rechkemmer
Gerhard
G
Roller
Monika
M
Rowland
Ian
I
Salvadori
Maddalena
M
Thijs
Herbert
H
Van Loo
Jan
J
Watzl
Bernhard
B
Collins
John K
JK
D000368:Aged; D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000502:physiology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003111:Colonic Polyps / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007444:Inulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014867:Water
D014867:Water; D007444:Inulin