Women and men exhibit distinct gut microbial profiles linked to colorectal cancer development
Overview
Paper Summary
In this study of people who tested positive for blood in their stool, men were more likely to have precancerous colorectal lesions than women. While both men and women had distinct gut bacteria profiles, only women's gut microbiome varied depending on whether they had lesions. Some specific bacteria seemed linked to lesions differently in men and women.
Explain Like I'm Five
Men are slightly more likely to get colorectal lesions than women, and their gut bacteria are different too. Women's gut bacteria seem to change depending on whether they have lesions, but men's don't.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
The bowel preparation used for colonoscopy in the BCSN trial was provided free of charge by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. However, the authors state that the funders had no role in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or writing of the article.
Identified Limitations
Rating Explanation
This study provides valuable insights into sex-specific differences in the gut microbiome and their association with colorectal lesions. The large sample size, use of metagenomic sequencing, and detailed lifestyle/demographic data are strengths. However, limitations like the cross-sectional design, potential selection bias, and the possibility of residual confounding prevent a higher rating. The mediation analysis showed only modest trends.
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