For years, scientists have known that diets high in red meat and saturated fat are linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer. What has remained unclear is exactly how those foods increase the risk. Now, a new study published in the journal Gut has uncovered a key piece of the puzzle, pointing to specific gut bacteria that transform bile acids into compounds capable of promoting tumour growth.
The research, conducted by an international team of scientists, provides some of the strongest evidence yet that the combination of a Western-style diet and certain gut microbes can directly contribute to the development of colorectal cancer.
