Researchers examined data from 32,606 men and 55,743 women who underwent colonoscopies between 2012 and 2024. Study participants provided detailed information about their health, lifestyle, diet, and exercise habits every four years.
During that period, 5,811 men developed colorectal tumors or abnormal tissue growths that can sometimes become cancerous, and 8,116 women developed adenomas.
Compared to men who did not eat any yogurt, those who ate at least two servings per week were 19% less likely to develop conventional adenomas, the most common type of benign tumor found in the colon and rectum. Those who ate yogurt were also 26% less likely to develop adenomas, which are precancerous growth.
"Our data provides new evidence for the role of yogurt in the early stages of colorectal cancer," said Dr. Yin Tsao, a co-author of the study and a professor at Washington University School of Medicine.
"If confirmed by future studies, the findings suggest that yogurt may reduce the risk of developing adenomas," he continued in an email.
Previous studies have linked yogurt consumption to a lower risk of colorectal cancer, and some scientists believe this may be because yogurt promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. However, little is known about how yogurt might affect a person's likelihood of developing adenomas.