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# Fructans protect against colon cancer
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/fructans_protect_against_colon_cancer_0118150944/
- Published: 2015-01-18T10:43:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:06:02.000Z
- Description: Rats fed a fructan-rich supplement from Agave salmiana developed significantly fewer early colon cancer lesions than controls after azoxymethane exposure, a Natural Product Communications study reports. The authors suggest agave fructans may lower colon cancer risk as inulin-like fructans do.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Sunday Jan 18, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Prebiotic fructans from the Agave genus as well as other inulin-like fructans may be used to prevent colon cancer, a study published in the Oct 2014 issue of Natural Product Communications suggests.

Colon cancer is a highly lethal malignancy that is related to dietary habits. Early studies have already demonstrated that inulin-like fructans possess a chemoprotective effect against colon cancer.

For the current study, researchers tested "Agave mezcalero potosino" A. salmiana Otto ex Salm Dick, which is high in fructans and commonly used in Mexico in rats to see if this supplement may reduce risk of azoxymethane- induced colon cancer.

The study shows that compared to the controls, the study subjects receiving this fructan-rich supplement significantly decreased early lesions of colon cancer or aberrant crypt foci. The results prompted the researchers to conclude that this fructan may reduce risk of colon cancer as well as inulin like fructans.

Both inulin and fructans are soluble dietary fibers which are subject to fermentation in the gut leading to the formation of beneficial short chain fatty acids such as butyric acid and propionic acid. (david Liu, PHD)

*Dávila-Céspedes A, Juárez-Flores BI, Pinos-Rodríguezc JM, Aguirre-Riverab JR, Oros-Ovalled AC, Loyola-Martínez ED, Andrade-Zaldívar H. Protective effect ofAgave salmiana fructans in azoxymethane- induced colon cancer in Wistar rats. Nat Prod Commun. 2014 Oct;9(10):1503-6.*