Department of Medical Biochemistry.
Department of Gastroenterology, Gulhane School of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Ankara.
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2024 Jul 1;36(7):890-896. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002789. Epub 2024 May 13.
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced when the microbiota in the large intestine cause fermentation of dietary carbohydrates and fibers. These fatty acids constitute the primary energy source of colon mucosa cells and have a protective effect in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to compare the SCFA levels in the stools of patients with IBD and healthy controls.
Healthy controls and patients with IBD aged 18 and over were included in the study. Stool samples from all patients and healthy controls were collected, and stool acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid levels were measured using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry measurement method.
In this study, 64 participants were divided into two groups: 34 were in IBD (Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis) and 30 were in healthy control group. When fecal SCFA concentrations of IBD and healthy control groups were compared, a statistically significant difference was observed between them. When the fecal SCFA concentrations of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients in the IBD group were compared, however, no statistically significant difference was observed between them. Furthermore, when the participants' diet type (carbohydrate-based, vegetable-protein-based and mixed diet) and the number of meals were compared with fecal SCFA concentrations, no statistically significant difference was observed between them.
In general, fecal SCFA levels in patients with IBD were lower than those in healthy controls. Moreover, diet type and the number of meals had no effect on stool SCFA levels in patients with IBD and healthy individuals.
短链脂肪酸（SCFAs）是大肠中的微生物群落引起膳食纤维和碳水化合物发酵时产生的。这些脂肪酸构成结肠黏膜细胞的主要能量来源，对患有炎症性肠病（IBD）的患者具有保护作用。本研究旨在比较 IBD 患者和健康对照者粪便中的 SCFA 水平。
本研究纳入了年龄在 18 岁及以上的健康对照者和 IBD 患者。收集所有患者和健康对照者的粪便样本，采用气相色谱-质谱联用测定法测量粪便中乙酸、丙酸和丁酸的水平。
本研究共纳入 64 名参与者，分为两组：34 名为 IBD（克罗恩病和溃疡性结肠炎）患者，30 名为健康对照组。比较 IBD 组和健康对照组的粪便 SCFA 浓度时，两组间存在统计学差异。然而，比较 IBD 组中克罗恩病和溃疡性结肠炎患者的粪便 SCFA 浓度时，两组间无统计学差异。此外，当比较参与者的饮食类型（碳水化合物型、植物蛋白型和混合饮食）和进餐次数与粪便 SCFA 浓度时，两组间无统计学差异。
一般来说，IBD 患者的粪便 SCFA 水平低于健康对照组。此外，饮食类型和进餐次数对 IBD 患者和健康个体的粪便 SCFA 水平没有影响。
