Figure 2.

Diets influence CRC risk via gut microbiota and associated metabolites. This figure shows the effect of two different types of dietary patterns on gut microbiota and associated metabolites. Gut bacteria can promote CRC by metabolizing oncogenic dietary/digestive components such as protein and bile acids into metabolites such as secondary bile acids and hydrogen sulfide. In contrast, gut microbiota can protect against CRC by metabolizing beneficial dietary/digestive components such as plant-based polyphenols and fiber into metabolites such as butyrate. Bacteria and their metabolites can have direct effects on colonocytes via barrier dysfunction, epithelial proliferation, inflammatory, DNA damage, genotoxic ways, etc