The Relationship Between Diet and Rat Fecal Bacterial Enzymes Implicated in Colon Cancer 2 3

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Abstract
We studied the effect of diet on the activities of four enzymes found in the intestinal fiora of the male F344 rat. Animals initially fed a diet with high vegetable and grain content were shifted to a diet consisting predominantly of beef. While eating the meat diet, the rats had significantly higher levels of nitroreductase, azoreductase, and β-glucuronidase in their fecal flora when compared to levels measured during grain feeding. However, β-glucosidase activity was significantly lower during meat feeding, which probably reflected the lack of β-glycosidic linkages in this diet. These findings suggested that a high-beef diet, similar in composition to that consumed by humans with a relatively high risk of colon cancer, is associated with elevated levels of specific enzymes in the colon microflora. These enzymes have been implicated in the conversion of procarcinogens into carcinogens.