A study by researchers at Ohio State University suggests that Western diet may be a contributing factor to rise in colorectal cancer in young adults.
Scientists hypothesize that Frequent consumption of foods rich in fats, sugars and highly processed could alter the balance of intestinal bacteriawhich would lead to a state of inflammation that increases the susceptibility to developing cancer.
Furthermore, the researchers highlight the presence of a specific type of bacteria in the mouth which, when colonized in the intestine, creates a favorable environment for the development of diseases, including colon cancer.
The typical Western diet, rich in meat and fat and low in complex carbohydrates (starches), It is a recipe for developing colon cancer.the gastroenterologist warned today Stephen O'Keefefrom the American University of Pittsburgh.
This is because diet has a direct influence on the different bacteria in the intestine, which They can produce protective or carcinogenic substances for the colonO'Keefe said at a meeting of the Society for General Microbiology in Harrogate, United Kingdom.
Colorectal cancer is the second cause of oncological death in adults in the Western world behind lung cancer.. The gastroenterologist explained that people who consume a diet rich in complex carbohydrates (cereals, legumes, vegetables and fruits) have a large amount of Firmicutes in their intestines.
These bacteria use starch and protein waste in the colon to make short-chain fatty acids and vitamins such as folate and biotin that maintain colon health. It has been shown in both experimental and human studies that One of these fatty acids, butyrate, reduces the risk of colon cancer.
On the other hand, some bacteria can make toxic substances from food waste, O'Keefe said.
Diets rich in meat produce sulfur, which reduces the action of beneficial health bacteria, he added. “Our research has so far focused on a small number of bacterial species and therefore we have only revealed the tip of the iceberg“said the scientist.
According to O'Keefe, the colon is home to more than 800 bacterial species and 7,000 different strains. and the study of its properties and metabolism is expected to reveal the key to colorectal health and disease.
“A diet that keeps the colon healthy also maintains the health of the body in general and reduces coronary heart disease.”
Stephen O'Keefe,GASTROENTEROLOGIST
(With information from EFE)
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