Skip to main content
PMC home page
Gut logoLink to Gut
. 1987 Oct;28(10):1221–1227. doi: 10.1136/gut.28.10.1221

Short chain fatty acids in human large intestine, portal, hepatic and venous blood.

J H Cummings 1, E W Pomare 1, W J Branch 1, C P Naylor 1, G T Macfarlane 1
PMCID: PMC1433442  PMID: 3678950

Abstract

Evidence for the occurrence of microbial breakdown of carbohydrate in the human colon has been sought by measuring short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in the contents of all regions of the large intestine and in portal, hepatic and peripheral venous blood obtained at autopsy of sudden death victims within four hours of death. Total SCFA concentration (mmol/kg) was low in the terminal ileum at 13 +/- 6 but high in all regions of the colon ranging from 131 +/- 9 in the caecum to 80 +/- 11 in the descending colon. The presence of branched chain fatty acids was also noted. A significant trend from high to low concentrations was found on passing distally from caecum to descending colon. pH also changed with region from 5.6 +/- 0.2 in the caecum to 6.6 +/- 0.1 in the descending colon. pH and SCFA concentrations were inversely related. Total SCFA (mumol/l) in blood was, portal 375 +/- 70, hepatic 148 +/- 42 and peripheral 79 +/- 22. In all samples acetate was the principal anion but molar ratios of the three principal SCFA changed on going from colonic contents to portal blood to hepatic vein indicating greater uptake of butyrate by the colonic epithelium and propionate by the liver. These data indicate that substantial carbohydrate, and possibly protein, fermentation is occurring in the human large intestine, principally in the caecum and ascending colon and that the large bowel may have a greater role to play in digestion than has previously been ascribed to it.

Full text

PDF
1225

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Argenzio R. A., Southworth M. Sites of organic acid production and absorption in gastrointestinal tract of the pig. Am J Physiol. 1975 Feb;228(2):454–460. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1975.228.2.454. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bown R. L., Gibson J. A., Sladen G. E., Hicks B., Dawson A. M. Effects of lactulose and other laxatives on ileal and colonic pH as measured by a radiotelemetry device. Gut. 1974 Dec;15(12):999–1004. doi: 10.1136/gut.15.12.999. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Calloway D. H. Respiratory hydrogen and methane as affected by consumption of gas-forming foods. Gastroenterology. 1966 Sep;51(3):383–389. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cummings J. H. Dietary fibre. Br Med Bull. 1981 Jan;37(1):65–70. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a071678. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Cummings J. H., Hill M. J., Bone E. S., Branch W. J., Jenkins D. J. The effect of meat protein and dietary fiber on colonic function and metabolism. II. Bacterial metabolites in feces and urine. Am J Clin Nutr. 1979 Oct;32(10):2094–2101. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/32.10.2094. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cummings J. H. Short chain fatty acids in the human colon. Gut. 1981 Sep;22(9):763–779. doi: 10.1136/gut.22.9.763. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Dankert J., Zijlstra J. B., Wolthers B. G. Volatile fatty acids in human peripheral and portal blood: quantitative determination vacuum distillation and gas chromatography. Clin Chim Acta. 1981 Mar 5;110(2-3):301–307. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(81)90359-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Englyst H. N., Cummings J. H. Digestion of polysaccharides of potato in the small intestine of man. Am J Clin Nutr. 1987 Feb;45(2):423–431. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/45.2.423. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Englyst H. N., Cummings J. H. Digestion of the carbohydrates of banana (Musa paradisiaca sapientum) in the human small intestine. Am J Clin Nutr. 1986 Jul;44(1):42–50. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/44.1.42. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Englyst H. N., Cummings J. H. Digestion of the polysaccharides of some cereal foods in the human small intestine. Am J Clin Nutr. 1985 Nov;42(5):778–787. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/42.5.778. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Fleming S. E., Rodriguez M. A. Influence of dietary fiber on fecal excretion of volatile fatty acids by human adults. J Nutr. 1983 Aug;113(8):1613–1625. doi: 10.1093/jn/113.8.1613. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Høverstad T., Fausa O., Bjørneklett A., Bøhmer T. Short-chain fatty acids in the normal human feces. Scand J Gastroenterol. 1984 May;19(3):375–381. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Imoto S., Namioka S. VFA metabolism in the pig. J Anim Sci. 1978 Aug;47(2):479–487. doi: 10.2527/jas1978.472479x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Imoto S., Namioka S. VFA production in the pig large intestine. J Anim Sci. 1978 Aug;47(2):467–478. doi: 10.2527/jas1978.472467x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Levitt M. D., Ingelfinger F. J. Hydrogen and methane production in man. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1968 Feb 26;150(1):75–81. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1968.tb19033.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Macfarlane G. T., Cummings J. H., Allison C. Protein degradation by human intestinal bacteria. J Gen Microbiol. 1986 Jun;132(6):1647–1656. doi: 10.1099/00221287-132-6-1647. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Macfarlane G. T., Englyst H. N. Starch utilization by the human large intestinal microflora. J Appl Bacteriol. 1986 Mar;60(3):195–201. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1986.tb01073.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. McNeil N. I., Cummings J. H., James W. P. Short chain fatty acid absorption by the human large intestine. Gut. 1978 Sep;19(9):819–822. doi: 10.1136/gut.19.9.819. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Midtvedt T., Norman A. Parameters in 7-alpha-dehydroxylation of bile acids by anaerobic lactobacilli. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1968;72(2):313–329. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1968.tb01345.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Pomare E. W., Branch W. J., Cummings J. H. Carbohydrate fermentation in the human colon and its relation to acetate concentrations in venous blood. J Clin Invest. 1985 May;75(5):1448–1454. doi: 10.1172/JCI111847. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Remesy C., Demigne C. Partition and absorption of valatile fatty acids in the alimentary canal of the rat. Ann Rech Vet. 1976;7(1):39–55. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Roediger W. E. Role of anaerobic bacteria in the metabolic welfare of the colonic mucosa in man. Gut. 1980 Sep;21(9):793–798. doi: 10.1136/gut.21.9.793. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Rubinstein R., Howard A. V., Wrong O. M. In vivo dialysis of faeces as a method of stool analysis. IV. The organic anion component. Clin Sci. 1969 Oct;37(2):549–564. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Ruppin H., Bar-Meir S., Soergel K. H., Wood C. M., Schmitt M. G., Jr Absorption of short-chain fatty acids by the colon. Gastroenterology. 1980 Jun;78(6):1500–1507. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. SCHENK W. G., Jr, McDONALD J. C., McDONALD K., DRAPANAS T. Direct measurement of hepatic blood flow in surgical patients: with related observations on hepatic flow dynamics in experimental animals. Ann Surg. 1962 Sep;156:463–471. doi: 10.1097/00000658-196209000-00013. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Southgate D. A., Durnin J. V. Calorie conversion factors. An experimental reassessment of the factors used in the calculation of the energy value of human diets. Br J Nutr. 1970 Jun;24(2):517–535. doi: 10.1079/bjn19700050. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Spiller G. A., Chernoff M. C., Hill R. A., Gates J. E., Nassar J. J., Shipley E. A. Effect of purified cellulose, pectin, and a low-residue diet on fecal volatile fatty acids, transit time, and fecal weight in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 Apr;33(4):754–759. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/33.4.754. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Stephen A. M., Haddad A. C., Phillips S. F. Passage of carbohydrate into the colon. Direct measurements in humans. Gastroenterology. 1983 Sep;85(3):589–595. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Topping D. L., Illman R. J., Taylor M. N., McIntosh G. H. Effects of wheat bran and porridge oats on hepatic portal venous volatile fatty acids in the pig. Ann Nutr Metab. 1985;29(6):325–331. doi: 10.1159/000176989. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Vernay M., Marty J., Moatti J. P. Absorption of electrolytes and volatile fatty acids in the hind-gut of the rabbit. Circadian rhythm of hind-gut electrolytes and plasma aldosterone. Br J Nutr. 1984 Sep;52(2):419–428. doi: 10.1079/bjn19840107. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Vernia P., Breuer R. I., Gnaedinger A., Latella G., Santoro M. L. Composition of fecal water. Comparison of "in vitro" dialysis with ultrafiltration. Gastroenterology. 1984 Jun;86(6):1557–1561. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Gut are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES