Colon cancer and probiotic short chain fatty acid production
A significant factor in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), which claimed 935,000 lives in 2020, is the colon microbiota (the second most deadly cancer worldwide).
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have anti-cancer properties, cannot be produced when there is dysbiosis in the colon microbiota, which occurs during carcinogenesis. Certain probiotic strains produce SCFAs that target colon cancer cells in addition to having other anticancer capabilities, making them a promising new treatment option. In this essay, the most effective probiotics for the job will be discussed in light of recent studies.
Cancer of the colon and SCFAs
The fermentation of dietary fibers by gut bacteria results in the production of SCFAs, which are tiny molecules. Most of the colon’s SCFA content is made up of acetic, propionic, and butyric acid.
The regulation of inflammation, carcinogenesis, and intestinal barrier function are all impacted by SCFAs, according to numerous studies.
Butyrate, one of the primary sources of energy for colon cells, is one of the SCFA metabolites that has been shown to be essential for the prevention and treatment of colon cancer by encouraging the cell-cycle arrest and cell apoptosis (programmed death) of cancer cells and enhancing immunomodulation. Normal colon cells use butyrate as their main source of energy, whereas malignant colonocytes use glucose, which has been suggested as one way by which butyrate prevents the growth of cancer cells.
In fact, butyrate-producing bacteria have significantly decreased in CRC patients while the pathogens linked to the disease, particularly Fusobacterium nucleatum, have increased.
The three main fecal SCFAs were shown to be considerably less concentrated in those at risk of developing CRC than in healthy persons, according to a recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 research. Another study discovered an inverse relationship between fecal butyrate and CRC tumor growth.
Consequently, changes in SCFA levels may have an effect on colonic health and colonocytes’ propensity for abnormal proliferation and tumor development.
One method for enhancing CRC prevention and/or results is to modify the composition of the gut microbiota towards species that are more advantageous for the production of SCFA. Because of its putrid smell and terrible taste, butyrate administration by oral means is not considered to be ideal. Dietary fibers and partially digested proteins can potentially produce modulation, but only probiotics will be covered in this article.
Probiotics and Colon Cancer
Some probiotic strains have been shown in studies to create SCFAs, however the levels produced vary depending on the strain.
Several strains of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus were the subject of a recent study that aimed to describe the relative SCFA synthesis by these bacteria.
The results revealed that all of the examined strains produced butyrate at varying levels, but L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus strains produced butyrate at higher levels than the others. The results showed that butyrate production was influenced by strain type, temperature, and incubation time during cultivation.
The functions of the SCFAs were further defined: the SCFAs had a positive anti-cancer effect in the colon through a variety of mechanisms, including suppressing the growth of cancer cells, preventing the growth of pathogens linked to colon cancer, promoting the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and squelching the pathogen-stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Additional probiotic strains will probably also demonstrate promise as pertinent SCFA producers for utilization in conceivable CRC therapeutics.
