What Does Your Gut Bacteria Say About Your Colon Health?

A gastroenterologist might say that what goes in, must come out. Similarly, the combination of gut bacteria that's slumping around in our stomach will determine much of our colon health.

Recent findings published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research examined how gut microbiome--more commonly referred to as gut bacteria--essentially determines an individual's risk for colon cancer.

Researchers collected stool samples from 30 healthy people, 30 with precancerous intestinal polyps and 30 with advanced colon or rectal cancers. By assessing the composition of their gut microbiomes, they conducted a thorough analysis that also included additional factors, such as age and race--both known to increase the risk of precancerous polyps.

Study findings revealed a 4.5-fold improved prediction of precancerous polyps based on the analysis of gut microbiomes and the additional factors, including BMI. 

Furthermore, researchers found that this analysis was better than testing fecal occult blood testing for determining the risk of precancerous polyps from those with invasive cancer.

"Our data show that gut micro biome analysis has the potential to be a new tool to non-invasively screen for colorectal cancer," Schloss added, via Doctor's Lounge. "We don't think that this would ever replace other colorectal cancer screening approaches, rather we see it as complementary."

Statistics from the American Cancer Society show that about one in 20 people will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime. The risk is slightly more common in men than women and certain environmental and genetic risk factors may determine an increased risk for this type of cancer, according to health officials.