Table 2.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria of the individuals in the study.

CRC patients	Healthy individuals
INCLUSION CRITERIA	INCLUSION CRITERIA
Age 40–75 years	Age 40–75 years
Diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy and histological analysis	BMI 18.5–30 kg/m2
Undergone radical resection and no distant metastasis (including liver)
EXCLUSION CRITERIA	EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Age >75 years	BMI >30 kg/m2
Pregnancy	Pregnancy
Known lactose intolerance	Known lactose intolerance
Clinically significant immunodeficiency	Clinically significant immunodeficiency
Usage of antibiotics and additional gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)	Usage of antibiotics and additional gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
Received antibiotics for the past 3 months before surgery	Received antibiotics for the past 3 months before surgery
Evidence of infection	Evidence of infection
Probiotics or prebiotics and excessive fiber intake within 2 weeks	Probiotics or prebiotics and excessive fiber intake within 2 weeks
Undergoing emergency operation	Undergoing emergency operation
Bowel preparation for colonoscopy within 6 days prior to surgery	Bowel preparation for colonoscopy within 6 days prior to surgery
Undergoing proctectomy with low rectal anastomosis or surgery for polypoid lesion	Undergoing proctectomy with low rectal anastomosis or surgery for polypoid lesion
Laparoscopic surgery	Laparoscopic surgery
Patients received preoperative chemotherapy or radiation therapy	Suffered from other tumor

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; CRC, colorectal cancer.