Stretching it a bit

Q; Did you see yoghurt prevents cancer?

A: Where?

Q: The Herald (from the Daily Telegraph): “8 ways to lower your cancer risk.” Number one is “Eat yoghurt”. And they even have a link to research. How’s that for impressive?

A: Not exactly a link. They mention the name of a journal, but don’t even give the researchers’ names.

Q: Can’t you find them?

A: Of course. It’s even open-access.

Q: So, how much yoghurt did the people have to eat?

A: No yoghurt was harmed in this experiment. Also no people.

Q: Mice?

A: Mice.

Q: But yoghurt?

A: No. Some of the mice were set up with a restricted set of gut bacteria (missing known nasty ones) by being raised in a mouse colony who all had the restricted set.

Q: But the story says “gave one group of mice beneficial bacteria through probiotic supplements and the other non-beneficial bacteria. ”

A: Yes, it does. The research paper, not so much. Nor even the press release.

Q: So why yoghurt?

A: One of the bacteria that was more common in the mice with the restricted set is a Lactobacillus strain. Other Lactobacillus strains, even sometimes from the same species, are involved in making yoghurt, sourdough, sauerkraut, kimchi, etc.

Q: And you could use the mouse bacteria to make these foods?

A: In principle, probably, though you might not want to advertise it that way.

Q: So, the mice with more Lactobacillus were less likely to get cancer?

A: These were mutant mice who all get cancer, so that’s not really the question. They took longer to get cancer.

Q: So we can’t really be confident yoghurt would prevent normal mice from getting cancer?

A: No, it’s too soon to tell.

Q: Good thing normal mice don’t read the newspapers, then.