Several studies have already shown indicators of the effects of the microbiome on health, and understanding its association with disease is a growing field of scientific research.

According to a more recent study, gut bacteria may also lower the risk of developing leukemia among those with a genetic predisposition to the disease.

The study was published in the journal Blood, and although the experiment has been carried out in mice, the results may indicate possibilities of preventing the disease in children susceptible to genetic inheritance.

The study highlights that precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common among childhood leukemia cases. This type of disease is associated with a combination of genetic factors and some infections that can occur after delivery.

Even with genetic predisposition, many children do not go on to develop the disease. “In rats, it is observed that intestinal microbes are different from those of animals that are not susceptible to the disease,” says one of the study authors, Isidro Sánchez-García, from the Center for Oncological Research (CIC-IBMCC).

To continue their studies, they hope to expand large-scale experiments to find out if a change in the microbiome could be a successful strategy to prevent disease.

FUNIBER promotes studies in the area of ​​food and health, such as the Master’s Degree in Maternal-Child Nutrition and the Doctorate in Nutrition