Kefir reduces the incidence of pre-neoplastic lesions in an animal model for colorectal cancer

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of regular consumption of milk kefir on the development of pre-neoplastic colonic lesions. Thirty Wistar rats received water (Control group) or milk (Milk group) or kefir (Kefir group) during five weeks. After that, colonic lesions were chemically induced and the treatments continued for more thirteen weeks. The regular consumption of kefir was able to reduce the incidence of aberrant crypt foci by 36%. Also, the consumption of kefir increased the cecal concentration of short chain fatty acids; reduced the lactulose/mannitol ratio; promoted an increase in the colonic concentration of TNF-α and IL-1β, and the enzyme catalase in comparison with the control group. Thus, kefir reduced the development of lesions, probably by increasing the production of short chain fatty acids; reduction of intestinal permeability; immunomodulation and improvement of colonic antioxidant activity.