Yogurt and colorectal growths in adults
What it found
In people, eating more yogurt was linked to fewer colorectal growths in several studies.
Prebiotic supplements showed no link, and probiotic supplements showed some link to fewer adenomas but not to colorectal cancer.
What they found
Studies in people
Yogurt and colorectal growths
Several studies found that people who ate more yogurt had fewer new colorectal growths than those who ate little or none. One study in men found a lower risk of conventional adenomas but not serrated lesions, and no link in women.
Prebiotic supplements
Prebiotic fiber supplements were not linked to the number of new colorectal growths. One study found that insoluble fiber use was linked to higher death from colorectal cancer compared to non-use.
Probiotic supplements
One study found that weekly probiotic use was linked to fewer colorectal polyps in some adults. A randomized trial found no difference in tumor occurrence with Lactobacillus casei or wheat bran.
Yogurt and colorectal cancer
Some studies found that higher yogurt consumption was linked to lower risk of colorectal cancer, but one study found no link. Yogurt was not linked to death from colorectal cancer in one study.
Other findings
Synbiotic supplements
No studies looked at synbiotic supplements and new colorectal growths.
What the authors conclude
“Our findings suggest a possible association between higher yogurt consumption and lower incidence of colorectal neoplasia.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that higher yogurt consumption may be linked to lower incidence of colorectal neoplasia.
- They state that prebiotic supplementation was not associated with colorectal neoplasia risk.
- They say that further research is needed to understand whether the link between yogurt and colorectal neoplasia is due to the microbial content of yogurt or other nutritional components.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see whether prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic supplements, and yogurt, affect the number of new colorectal growths in adults. Earlier reviews had looked at gut bacteria or markers of cancer risk, not at new growths themselves.
They searched for studies published from January 1966 to July 2021 and found ten studies in adults aged 18 and over without gut disease at the start. The studies included three on prebiotic supplements, one on probiotic supplements, six on yogurt, and one on both probiotics and yogurt. Sample sizes ranged from 398 to 160,195 people, with follow-up up to 32 years.
What it can’t tell you
- Most of the studies followed people over time, so they can show a link but not prove that yogurt or supplements cause the change in growths.
- The studies used different ways to measure diet and supplements, so the results are hard to compare directly.
- The authors could not combine the results into one analysis because the studies were too different.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by NCI NIH HHS; VA; CSRD VA (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.
- Authors work at
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA; University of California, USA; University of Freiburg, Germany
The paper
- Title
- The Impact of Prebiotic, Probiotic, and Synbiotic Supplements and Yogurt Consumption on the Risk of Colorectal Neoplasia among Adults: A Systematic Review
- Type
- Systematic review
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Kim CE, Yoon LS, Michels KB, Tranfield W, Jacobs JP, May FP (2022). The Impact of Prebiotic, Probiotic, and Synbiotic Supplements and Yogurt Consumption on the Risk of Colorectal Neoplasia among Adults: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu14224937Free full textPubMed 36432622DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error