title: Kefir and Cancer: A Systematic Review of Literatures.
abstract: Some studies have suggested chemopreventive effects of kefir, a fermented milk product, on carcinogenesis. The aim of this review study was to evaluate the scientific evidence for effects of kefir on cancer prevention and treatment. We systematically searched for all relevant studies published before June 2015, using PubMed, Google scholar, Cochrane and Science Direct, SID, MedLib and Srlst databases. Relevant studies were reviewed based on systematic review (PRISMA) guidelines. From a total of 2208 papers obtained at the initial database search, 11 publications including 7 in vitro and 4 experimental studies were eligible. In vitro studies on breast, colon, skin and gastric cancers and leukemia cell lines and experimental studies on different sarcomas consistently showed beneficial effects of kefir on cancer prevention and treatment. The results of this systematic review suggest that kefir may be associated with cancer prevention and it also has beneficial effects in cancer treatment. This protection may be associated with kefir bioactive components including peptides, polysaccharides and sphingolipids.
authors.affiliation: 1)Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2)Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rafie
authors.affiliation: 1)Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2)Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Golpour Hamedani
authors.affiliation: 1)Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2)Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghiasvand
authors.affiliation: 1)Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2)Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miraghajani
mesh_terms: D043302:Cultured Milk Products; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*