Alimentação adequada e uso de probióticos como potencial preventivo ao câncer colorretal: uma revisão narrativa

Abstract

The increased prevalence and morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer in recent years has led the scientific community to examine its key nuances and aspects. Thus, an adequate diet rich in probiotics has emerged as the primary recommendation, given the relationship between intestinal health and the disease. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the preventive potential of colorectal cancer by discussing studies addressing the topic and their scientific evidence, highlighting its true preventive potential. Through a narrative review, we analyzed the most up-to-date studies on the topic in the PubMed, Scielo, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and Google Scholar databases. These studies were selected based on their scientific evidence and publication dates from 2015 to 2025, among other factors. The review revealed that all selected studies presented sound scientific basis for the preventive power of diet, covering key nutrients such as soluble and insoluble fiber, unsaturated fats, the vitamins and minerals most present in gastrointestinal tract health, and the main probiotic strains that demonstrated disease prevention. Nine articles addressing this topic were selected. The study found that strains such as Lactobacillus gallinarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Lactobacillus acidophilus play important roles in intestinal health and carry out processes that combat the proliferation of carcinogenic factors, such as toxins and free radicals, and consequently, tumor cells. Its supplementation showed great effectiveness in preventing patients with a predisposition to neoplasia, while the presence of bacteria such as Fusobacterium nucleatum played a harmful role in the stability and health of the microbiome, based on a series of factors, such as chemoresistance. Therefore, it can be concluded that a balanced diet and the consumption of probiotics are directly linked to the prevention of colorectal cancer, either through specific metabolic processes that involve it or through an adequate quality of life that it causes.