Probiotics: A new popular option for cancer inhibition

Abstract

Cancer is an important global public health problem. Cancer incidence and mortality have been steadily rising throughout the last century in most areas of the world. Recent epidemiological evidences support to protective effects of probiotic bacteria against to colorectal cancer. While numerous of healthful effects have been attributed to the probiotic lactic acid bacteria; perhaps the most suspicious remains that of anticancer effects. In recent years, there have been many studies using animal models, which have clearly demonstrated a protective effect of dietary supplements of lactic acid bacteria against colon tumour development. This study gives a short overview on the present state of recent knowledge of the effects of the probiotic bacteria on the colon cancer development. © 2006 Academic Journals.