Can Kefir Help Prevent Breast Cancer? Exploring the Gut–Breast Connection

Project Overview

Breast cancer risk can be influenced by events early in life, especially during puberty, when the body is going through major changes. Research shows that stress and inflammation during this time can affect both gut bacteria and breast development in ways that may raise cancer risk. Kefir, a fermented dairy drink full of probiotics, has shown promise in reducing this risk in animal studies. This project explores whether drinking kefir before and during puberty could protect the body by improving gut health, supporting healthy breast development, and lowering the chance of developing breast cancer later in life. If successful, it could offer an easy, food-based strategy to support long-term health. 

What Will the Research Team Do? 

The research team will use animal models to study how drinking kefir before and during puberty affects gut health, immune system, and changes in breast tissue that can increase the risk of cancer. 
The primary objectives of this work are to: 

• Understand if kefir can correct gut microbiome imbalances and molecular changes in breast tissue caused by inflammation during puberty. 
• Explore whether restoring gut and breast health with kefir during puberty lowers the risk of developing breast cancer later in life.