According to a study published in the journal Gut Microbes regular yogurt consumption may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, particularly in tumors associated with the presence of Bifidobacterium. The research indicated that individuals who consumed yogurt at least twice a week had a 20% lower risk of developing certain types of bowel cancer.
To conduct the research, scientists analyzed data from two large-scale cohort studies in the United States: the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), which followed over 100,000 registered nurses since 1976, and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), which tracked 51,000 health professionals since 1986. The data allowed researchers to examine the long-term effects of yogurt consumption on colorectal cancer incidence.
Participants in the study underwent periodic questionnaires about their lifestyles, dietary habits, and medical records, including their consumption of yogurt—both plain and flavored—and other dairy products like milk, cheese, and ice cream. Tissue samples from individuals diagnosed with colorectal cancer were analyzed to measure levels of Bifidobacterium, a type of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Among the 1,121 cases of colorectal cancer with available Bifidobacterium content, 346 cases (31%) were positive for Bifidobacterium, while 775 cases (69%) were negative. The researchers found that those who ate yogurt at least twice a week had a 20% reduced risk of Bifidobacterium-positive proximal colon cancer compared to those who ate it once a month or less.
"This is unique evidence about the potential benefit of yogurt," said lead researcher Shuji Ogino, according to Metro. "It opens new possibilities to investigate what role these factors play in the risk of bowel cancer in younger people," concluded co-author Andrew Chan, as reported by Metro.
Dr. Tomotaka Ugai, an instructor at Harvard Medical School and a faculty member of the Cancer Epidemiology Program at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, commented on the findings. He told Fox News Digital that eating yogurt may reduce the risk of colon cancer "through the modulation of intestinal microbiome, which is quite reasonable." Dr. Ugai added, "Based on this study and other studies, yogurt can be considered beneficial for health, including lowering risk of the colorectal cancer subtype."
"It has long been believed that yogurt and other fermented dairy products are beneficial for gastrointestinal health," noted Dr. Tomotaka Ogai. "Our new findings suggest that this protective effect may be specific to Bifidobacterium-positive tumors."
Despite these promising results, the researchers did not observe a relationship between long-term yogurt consumption and the overall incidence of colorectal cancer. The protective effect was observed especially in Bifidobacterium-positive proximal colon cancer cases, which are less common but represent a more aggressive form of colorectal cancer with worse survival rates.
Participants reported consuming yogurt for long periods while detailed information about their diet, lifestyle, and health was collected. Science focusing on the human body microbiome showed that consuming live bacteria in yogurt can positively impact health, particularly through its effect on the intestinal microbiome.
Nutritionist Camella Bot advised individuals to consider the fat content of yogurt products. "In general, the healthiest variant is the one with the lowest fat content. So try, when you're at the shelves, to look for the 0 percent fat variant. Then you're always good," she said. It does not matter whether you choose quark, yogurt, or skyr, emphasizing that "the difference is in the taste and texture of the dairy, not so much in the nutritional values."
Dr. Ugai recommended that yogurt lovers make the habit part of their routine, especially if they are concerned about the possibility of developing colon cancer. "Maybe more than two servings a week," he advised, as noted by Fox News. However, he also emphasized that there is no need to consume foods one does not like. "If you're not interested or you don't like yogurt, no worries. You don't need to have it. There are many other healthy dietary options, such as vegetables, fruits, etc., which you can have, alternatively," Dr. Ugai said.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.