There are several studies that have shown that diet can change the composition of the colon microbiota and metabolism . Now, a recent study carried out by a team of scientists from the department of nutrition and food sciences at Texas A&M University (USA) has shown that regular consumption of prunes can help reduce the risk colon cancer.
Plums have phenolic compounds that have different positive consequences on our body, such as serving as antioxidants that neutralize the effects of free radicals, safeguarding our DNA .
Taking into account that disruptions in the microbiota can aid initial intestinal inflammation and recurrent inflammation and that this can lead, in the long term, to the development of colon cancer, the researchers conducted an experiment with laboratory mice to test the effect on the microbiota of compounds in prunes . Thus, the mice with colon cancer were divided into two groups: the first group was given a diet with prunes and the second group a control diet.
After examining the intestinal contents and tissues of different segments of the rodents’ colon, the scientists discovered that the prune diet had changed the levels of the two main types of bacteria in the intestine , promoting the retention of the microbiota. In addition, the number of aberrant crypt foci (grouping of abnormal tube-shaped glands in the lining of the colon and rectum that can lead to cancer) was significantly reduced compared to the control group.
” From this study we were able to conclude that prunes in fact appear to promote the retention of beneficial microbiota and microbial metabolism throughout the colon, which was associated with a reduction in the incidence of precancerous lesions, ” explains Nancy Turner, study leader.
The results have been presented at the 2015 Experimental Biology Conference held in Boston (USA).
