Urbanization in South Africa are Linked to Microbiome and Metabolome Signatures of Westernization and Increased Colorectal Cancer Risk

The transition from traditional high-fiber to Western diets in urbanizing communities of Sub-Saharan Africa is associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCD), exemplified by colorectal cancer (CRC). To investigate how urbanization gives rise to microbial patterns that may be amenable by dietary intervention, we analyzed fecal bacteriome in healthy rural and urban Xhosa people (South Africa).