The application of probiotic fermented milks in cancer and intestinal inflammation

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria are present in many foods such as yoghurt and are frequently used as probiotics to improve some biological functions of the host. Many researchers have evaluated the effects of yoghurt and lactic acid bacteria against diseases such as cancer and intestinal inflammation. The preventive effect of probiotics on intestinal carcinogenesis may be associated with changes in the intestinal microbiota, suppressing the growth of bacteria that convert procarcinogens into carcinogens. Other mechanisms could be related to the immune response modulation and have been evaluated using milks fermented with lactic acid bacteria in chemically induced colon cancer and hormone-dependent breast cancer models. We demonstrated, using a murine colon cancer model, that yoghurt consumption inhibited tumour growth by decreasing the inflammatory response by increasing IL-10-secreting cells, cellular apoptosis and diminishing procarcinogenic enzymes. Milk fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus R389 delayed breast tumour growth by decreasing IL-6 and increasing IL-10 in serum and in the mammary glands and tumour-infiltrating immune cells. Previous results obtained with yoghurt administration in a colon cancer model led us to analyse its effect on a trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced intestinal inflammation model in mice. Yoghurt was able to attenuate the symptoms of acute inflammation by reducing inflammatory cytokines, and increasing regulatory cytokine IL-10-producing cells, leading to desirable changes of the intestinal microbiota. It was demonstrated, by using murine models, that the consumption of fermented milks can modulate the immune system and can maintain it in a state of surveillance, which could affront different pathologies such as cancer and intestinal inflammation.

Effect of Lactobacillus sporogenes (probiotic) on certain parasitological and molecular aspects in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice

“…They added that, probiotic treatment induced an increase in IL-10 levels, which would help to prevent the damage caused by the inflammatory response. Also, De Moreno and Perdigón (2010) showed that lactic acid bacteria present in many foods such as yoghurt and frequently used as probiotics to improve some biological functions of the host. Results of their studies demonstrated that the consumption of fermented milk can modulate the immune system and can maintain it in a state of surveillance, which could affront different pathologies such as cancer and intestinal inflammation.…”

Modification in the diet can induce beneficial effects against breast cancer

“…Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host [4] . These microorganisms and fermented foods containing LAB were growing in their popularity due to increasing numbers of studies proving that certain strains present health promoting properties, among them the prevention or treatment in the early stages of some types of cancers [5,6] . The use of experimental animal models has a number of advantages in that the environmental conditions and genetics can be either controlled or defined.…”

“…Probiotic microorganisms and fermented foods containing LAB have been growing in popularity due to increasing numbers of studies proving that certain strains present health promoting properties, among them the prevention or treatment in the early stages of some types of cancers [5,6,72] . The effects of probiotics and fermented products on intestinal disorders have been the most extensively studied considering that these microorganisms enter the organism orally and can positively modulate the intestinal microbiota involved in many of these disorders.…”

Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing of an Indian-Origin Lactobacillus helveticus Strain, MTCC 5463, with Probiotic Potential

“…Researchers have evaluated the effect of L. helveticus against diseases such as cancer and intestinal inflammation. Milk fermented with L. helveticus R389 delayed breast tumor growth by decreasing interleukin-6 (IL-6) and increasing IL-10 in serum, mammary glands, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (5). Lactobacillus helveticus strains are normally isolated from milk products and intestinal microflora (6,14).…”