A galacto-oligosaccharides preparation derived from lactulose protects against colorectal cancer development in an animal model

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common neoplasias worldwide, andits incidence is increasing. Consumption of prebiotics is a useful strategy in order to preventthis important disease. These nutraceutical compounds might exert protective biologicalfunctions as antitumors. In order to test the chemopreventive effect of GOS-Lu (galactooligosaccharidesderived from lactulose) prebiotic preparation against this cancer, ananimal model (Rattus norvegicus F344) was used. In this model, two doses ofazoxymethane (10 mg/kg) and two treatments with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) wereadministered to the animals. Animals were fed for 20 weeks, and either control drinkingwater or drinking water containing 10% (w/w) GOS-Lu prebiotic preparation was providedto them. Animals were sacrificed after those 20 weeks, and their digestive tract tissues wereanalyzed. The results revealed a statistically significant reduction in the number of colontumors in the GOS-Lu cohort with respect to control animals. Metagenomics sequencingwas used for studying colon microbiota populations, revealing significant reductions inpopulations of pro-inflammatory bacteria families and species, and significant increases ininteresting beneficial populations, such as Bifidobacterium. Therefore, oral administrationof the prebiotic GOS-Lu preparation may be an effective strategy for preventing CRC.