Prevention of Aberrant Crypt Foci Formation by Dietary Maize and Yeast Cerebrosides in 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine-treated Mice

Abstract

For clarification of physiological effects of dietary maize and yeast sphingolipids on colon cancer in vivo, we investigated the effects of dietary maize and yeast cerebrosides on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) -induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation in mouse large intestine. After 10 weeks of maize and yeast cerebroside feeding and DMH administration, DMH-induced ACF formation was significantly suppressed in all large intestines of these mice. When lipids in the feces of mice fed maize and yeast cerebrosides were analyzed, maize and yeast cerebrosides decomposed by intestinal enzyme and/or microflora were observed. The present study demonstrated that DMH-induced ACF formation could be inhibited in mouse large intestine by maize and yeast cerebrosides. Daily ingestion of these compounds may serve to suppress colon carcinoma in humans. © 2005, Japan Oil Chemists' Society. All rights reserved.