Resistant starch (RS) is starch and products of its small intestinal digestion that enter the large bowel. It occurs for various reasons including chemical structure, cooking of food, chemical modification, and food mastication. Human colonic bacteria ferment RS and nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP; major components of dietary fiber) to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), mainly acetate, propionate, and butyrate. SCFA stimulate colonic blood flow and fluid and electrolyte uptake. Butyrate is a preferred substrate for colonocytes and appears to promote a normal phenotype in these cells. Fermentation of some RS types favors butyrate production. Measurement of colonic fermentation in humans is difficult, and indirect measures (e.g., fecal samples) or animal models have been used. Of the latter, rodents appear to be of limited value, and pigs or dogs are preferable. RS is less effective than NSP in stool bulking, but epidemiological data suggest that it is more protective against colorectal cancer, possibly via butyrate. RS is a prebiotic, but knowledge of its other interactions with the microflora is limited. The contribution of RS to fermentation and colonic physiology seems to be greater than that of NSP. However, the lack of a generally accepted analytical procedure that accommodates the major influences on RS means this is yet to be established.

Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Human Colonic Function: Roles of Resistant Starch and Nonstarch Polysaccharides

BACKGROUND: Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, is a main end-product of intestinal microbial fermentation of mainly dietary fibre. Butyrate is an important energy source for intestinal epithelial cells and plays a role in the maintenance of colonic homeostasis. AIM: To provide an overview on the present knowledge of the bioactivity of butyrate, emphasizing effects and possible mechanisms of action in relation to human colonic function. METHODS: A PubMed search was performed to select relevant publications using the search terms: 'butyrate, short-chain fatty acid, fibre, colon, inflammation, carcinogenesis, barrier, oxidative stress, permeability and satiety'. RESULTS: Butyrate exerts potent effects on a variety of colonic mucosal functions such as inhibition of inflammation and carcinogenesis, reinforcing various components of the colonic defence barrier and decreasing oxidative stress. In addition, butyrate may promote satiety. Two important mechanisms include the inhibition of nuclear factor kappa B activation and histone deacetylation. However, the observed effects of butyrate largely depend on concentrations and models used and human data are still limited. CONCLUSION: Although most studies point towards beneficial effects of butyrate, more human in vivo studies are needed to contribute to our current understanding of butyrate-mediated effects on colonic function in health and disease.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2007.03562.x

Review article: the role of butyrate on colonic function

Competing Interests: The « Universite de la Mediterranee » deposed a patent on this study for which the authors Armougom F., Henry M., Drancourt M., and Raoult D. are the inventors.



Funding: The authors have no support or funding to report.

https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers17-08/010048509.pdf

Monitoring bacterial community of human gut microbiota reveals an increase in Lactobacillus in obese patients and Methanogens in anorexic patients.

No wonder you activities are, reading will be always needed. It is not only to fulfil the duties that you need to finish in deadline time. Reading will encourage your mind and thoughts. Of course, reading will greatly develop your experiences about everything. Reading molecular biology of the gene is also a way as one of the collective books that gives many advantages. The advantages are not only for you, but for the other peoples with those meaningful benefits.

Molecular Biology of the Gene.

Normalization of Lactulose Breath Testing Correlates With Symptom Improvement in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

This study determined the incidence and concentration of methane-producing bacteria in tap water enema samples of 130 individuals taken before sigmoidoscopy. The number of subjects classified in five major colonic groups were as follows: normal colon 36, diverticulosis 57, inflammatory bowel disease 11, colon polyps 34, and colon cancer 11. Some patients were placed in more than one category. Ninety four of the subjects or 72% had methanogenic bacteria ranging in concentration from 6 to about 3 X 10(10)/g dry weight of faeces. The predominant methanogen in all groups was Methanobrevibacter smithii. Chi-square analysis showed that the incidence of methanogens in concentrations of 10(7)/g dry weight of faeces or greater in patients with diverticulosis (58%) was significantly greater than in normal patients (25%). High methanogen concentrations are associated with excretion of methane in the breath.

https://gut.bmj.com/content/gutjnl/27/6/698.full.pdf

Incidence of methanogenic bacteria in a sigmoidoscopy population: an association of methanogenic bacteria and diverticulosis.

We investigated the distribution of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in enema samples taken from subjects before sigmoidoscopy as an indicator of possible microbial community differences between subjects subsequently diagnosed as normal or having colonic disorders. The major SCFA in all groups were acetic, propionic, and butyric acids. A significantly higher ratio of acetate to total SCFA and lower ratio of butyrate to total SCFA was found for polyp-colon cancer subjects than for normal subjects. There were no significant differences in the ratios of acetate, propionate, or butyrate between the diverticulosis or inflammatory bowel groups and the normal group. There were no significant sex differences nor were there correlations with the ratios of acetate, propionate or butyrate and age, subject weight, or dry weights of samples. Significant differences in concentrations of individual acids were found between normal and certain diagnostic groups. The difference in proportions of individual SCFA between groups suggest differences in fermentation patterns of the colonic microflora.

https://gut.bmj.com/content/gutjnl/29/11/1539.full.pdf

Short chain fatty acid distributions of enema samples from a sigmoidoscopy population: an association of high acetate and low butyrate ratios with adenomatous polyps and colon cancer.

The fermentation of glucose and corn starch by faecal suspensions from two subjects was examined over a three and a half year period. The substrate specificity and products of the faecal fermentations of each subject were relatively stable during this period and were significantly different between subjects. The major soluble end products of fermentation of glucose or starch were acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Hydrogen temporarily accumulated and was subsequently used in fermentations by both subjects. Hydrogen was used without methane production in fermentations of subject 1, but was used for methane formation in fermentations of subject 2. Although the rates of glucose fermentation were similar between both subjects; subject 1 produced a significantly greater molar ratio of propionate than did subject 2. The rate of fermentation of starch by faecal suspensions from subject 1 was faster than that of subject 2. The molar ratio of butyrate was greater for starch fermentations by subject 2, while the molar ratio of propionate was greater with subject 1. Significant differences were found between subjects in molar ratios and concentration of acetate and propionate and concentrations of butyrate in faeces.

https://gut.bmj.com/content/gutjnl/30/1/19.full.pdf

Constancy of glucose and starch fermentations by two different human faecal microbial communities.

Constancy ofglucose andstarch fermentations bytwo different humanfaecal microbial communities

Short chain fatty aciddistributions ofenema samples fromasigmoidoscopy population: anassociation of high acetate andlowbutyrate ratios withadenomatous polyps andcolon cancer

M J Wolin

Papers

Incidence of methanogenic bacteria in a sigmoidoscopy population: an association of methanogenic bacteria and diverticulosis.

Short chain fatty acid distributions of enema samples from a sigmoidoscopy population: an association of high acetate and low butyrate ratios with adenomatous polyps and colon cancer.

Constancy of glucose and starch fermentations by two different human faecal microbial communities.

Constancy ofglucose andstarch fermentations bytwo different humanfaecal microbial communities

Short chain fatty aciddistributions ofenema samples fromasigmoidoscopy population: anassociation of high acetate andlowbutyrate ratios withadenomatous polyps andcolon cancer