Inhibitory effect of whole oat on aberrant crypt foci formation and colon tumor growth in ICR and BALB/c mice

Recently, the incidence of colon cancer has been rapidly increasing in previously low-risk countries other than the Western world. Since dietary factors are thought to be key components involved in high risk colon cancer, the current trend for colon cancer prevention is toward dietary intervention. To explore if whole oat functions as a chemoprevention agent, an inflammation-related mouse colon cancer model, initiated with 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), was performed to evaluate the preventive effect of whole oat containing diets. The result indicated middle and high dose whole oat diets significantly reduced the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as well as colon tumors. Further, human colon carcinoma cells were subcutaneously inoculated into BALB/cAnNg-Foxn1 nude mice to measure the growth inhibition on whole oat diets. Low, middle and high dose whole oat diets significantly decreased the tumor volumes by 13%, 17% and 43%, respectively, indicating a dose dependent inhibitory effect. Meanwhile, 38% and 54% reductions in tumor weights were observed in middle and high dose whole oat diets. Together, the evidence suggests whole oat helps protect against colon cancer development and could be a good chemoprevention agent taken as a daily supplement.