Bowel cancer risk can be reduced in men if they incorporate yoghurt into their diet two or more times a week, a new study has found.

Men who regularly eat yoghurt are a fifth (19%) less likely to develop pre-cancerous growths, according to a study published in the journal Gut. These abnormal growths – known as adenoma – can precede the development of bowel cancer.

It has previously been suggested that eating a lot of natural yoghurt can change the type and volume of bacteria in the gut, thereby lowering the risk of cancer.

And these findings seem to confirm that, although the researchers said further studies are needed to corroborate the findings.

This study led by a group of US researchers, followed 32,606 men and 55,743 women who underwent a lower endoscopy between 1986 and 2012.

Participants provided information on their lifestyle and diet, including (vitally) how much yoghurt they ate.

During the study, 5822 adenomas developed in men and 8116 in women.

Men who had two or more 245g servings per week were 19% less likely to develop an adenoma than those who did not eat any at all. 

They were also 26% less likely to develop adenomas at a high risk of becoming cancerous, and at a reduced risk of having large growths.

However the same pattern was not seen in women. 

Dr Yin Cao, from Washington University, who worked on the study, said: “Our data provides novel evidence for the role of yogurt in early stage of colorectal cancer development and the potential of gut bacteria in modulating this process.

“The findings, if confirmed by future studies, suggest that yogurt might serve as a widely acceptable modifiable factor, which could complement colorectal cancer screening and/or reduce risk of adenoma among the unscreened.”