The concentration of invidual monocarboxylic short chain fatty acids in serum of normal children.

The normal serum concentrations of short-chain fatty acids C2--C6 (acetic to n-caproic) were estimated by gas chromatography in 35 children aged 4-16 years. Individual fluctuations were wide. The highest mean level concerned acetic acid (6.98 +/- 3.71 mug/ml), whereas the mean concentrations of other SFA were considerably lower and did not exceed 1.0 mug/ml except for n-caproic acid (1.34 mug/ml).