Can buttermilk (ayran) with its postbiotic content be used in the protection of colon health?

Objective: In recent years, we have come across articles on the positive effects of nutrition in disease prevention and treatment processes. The microbiota formed by bacteria in the human body can play a role in various diseases and cancer. There is some information on the prevention and treatment of colon cancer by products called postbiotics produced by some bacteria in this flora. It was aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of ayran, an ingredient rich in postbiotic products, on colon cancer. Materials and Methods: This study evaluates the effects of postbiotic LTW 35 on normal colon fibroblast (CRL-1459) and colon cancer (CCL-224) cell lines. CRL-1459 cells treated with TT X100 for cytotoxicity and CCL-224 cells grown to sufficient density were exposed to normal buttermilk and buttermilk containing 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% postbiotic LTW 35. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, and tumor activity was measured via the Ca 19-9 tumor marker. Results: The viability of CRL-1459 colon fibroblast cells decreases progressively with increasing concentrations of TT X100, reaching its lowest level at 0.5%. The viability of colorectal cancer cells is reduced as the concentration of postbiotic LTW 35 (Streptococcus thermophilus ATA-LTC St140700, Bifidobacterium animalis ATA-BSLA0310, Lactobacillus acidophilus ATA-LAP1201 ferment extract lysate) increases, with the lowest viability observed at 4%. Ca19-9 tumor marker levels in cancer cells decrease gradually with increasing concentrations of postbiotic LTW 35, showing the most significant reduction at 4%. Conclusion: Postbiotic LTW 35-enriched buttermilk restores the viability of TTX 100-damaged normal colon fibroblast cells and reduces the viability of colorectal cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating both restorative and anticancer effects. The observed decrease in Ca19-9 tumor marker levels further highlights its potential in reducing tumor activity.