American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 55, 70-77, Copyright © 1992 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Cornstarch fermentation by the colonic microbial community yields more butyrate than does cabbage fiber fermentation; cornstarch fermentation rates correlate negatively with methanogenesis

GA Weaver, JA Krause, TL Miller and MJ Wolin
Department of Medicine, Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Fermentations of cornstarch and a cabbage-fiber preparation by human fecal suspensions were studied. The molar percent of butyrate of total short-chain fatty acid products was significantly higher when cornstarch was the substrate. Higher molar percents of butyrate were also produced from cornstarch as compared with endogenous substrate when rat fecal suspensions were used. A range of cornstarch fermentation rates was found with suspensions from 20 human subjects. Rapid fermentaion was associated with the absence of methane production. Methane-negative rat fecal suspensions also fermented cornstarch more rapidly than did methane-positive suspensions. High butyrate production may be important because butyrate provides energy to colonocytes and it regulates differentiation of cultured cells.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. W. Finley, J. B. Burrell, and P. G. Reeves Pinto Bean Consumption Changes SCFA Profiles in Fecal Fermentations, Bacterial Populations of the Lower Bowel, and Lipid Profiles in Blood of Humans J. Nutr., November 1, 2007; 137(11): 2391 - 2398. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. H. Duncan, P. Louis, and H. J. Flint Lactate-Utilizing Bacteria, Isolated from Human Feces, That Produce Butyrate as a Major Fermentation Product Appl. Envir. Microbiol., October 1, 2004; 70(10): 5810 - 5817. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Wolin, T. L. Miller, M. D. Collins, and P. A. Lawson Formate-Dependent Growth and Homoacetogenic Fermentation by a Bacterium from Human Feces: Description of Bryantella formatexigens gen. nov., sp. nov. Appl. Envir. Microbiol., October 1, 2003; 69(10): 6321 - 6326. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. K. Le Leu, I. L. Brown, Y. Hu, and G. P. Young Effect of resistant starch on genotoxin-induced apoptosis, colonic epithelium, and lumenal contents in rats Carcinogenesis, August 1, 2003; 24(8): 1347 - 1352. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. H. Duncan, A. Barcenilla, C. S. Stewart, S. E. Pryde, and H. J. Flint Acetate Utilization and Butyryl Coenzyme A (CoA):Acetate-CoA Transferase in Butyrate-Producing Bacteria from the Human Large Intestine Appl. Envir. Microbiol., October 1, 2002; 68(10): 5186 - 5190. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. M. Wolever, K. B Schrade, J. A Vogt, E. B Tsihlias, and M. I McBurney Do colonic short-chain fatty acids contribute to the long-term adaptation of blood lipids in subjects with type 2 diabetes consuming a high-fiber diet? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, June 1, 2002; 75(6): 1023 - 1030. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Langkilde, M. Champ, and H. Andersson Effects of high-resistant-starch banana flour (RS2) on in vitro fermentation and the small-bowel excretion of energy, nutrients, and sterols: an ileostomy study Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2002; 75(1): 104 - 111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. Topping and P. M. Clifton Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Human Colonic Function: Roles of Resistant Starch and Nonstarch Polysaccharides Physiol Rev, July 1, 2001; 81(3): 1031 - 1064. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P Perrin, F Pierre, Y Patry, M Champ, M Berreur, G Pradal, F Bornet, K Meflah, and J Menanteau Only fibres promoting a stable butyrate producing colonic ecosystem decrease the rate of aberrant crypt foci in rats Gut, January 1, 2001; 48(1): 53 - 61. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. Weaver, C. T. Tangel, J. A. Krause, M. M. Parfitt, J. J. Stragand, P. L. Jenkins, T. A. Erb, R. H. Davidson, H. D. Alpern, W. B. Guiney Jr., et al. Biomarkers of Human Colonic Cell Growth Are Influenced Differently by a History of Colonic Neoplasia and the Consumption of Acarbose J. Nutr., November 1, 2000; 130(11): 2718 - 2725. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J Vonk, R. E Hagedoorn, R. de Graaff, H. Elzinga, S. Tabak, Y.-X. Yang, and F. Stellaard Digestion of so-called resistant starch sources in the human small intestine Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2000; 72(2): 432 - 438. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Fernandes, A. V. Rao, and T. M. S. Wolever Different Substrates and Methane Producing Status Affect Short-Chain Fatty Acid Profiles Produced by In Vitro Fermentation of Human Feces J. Nutr., August 1, 2000; 130(8): 1932 - 1936. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				H. N. Lærke, B. B. Jensen, and S. Højsgaard In Vitro Fermentation Pattern of D-Tagatose Is Affected by Adaptation of the Microbiota from the Gastrointestinal Tract of Pigs J. Nutr., July 1, 2000; 130(7): 1772 - 1779. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E J Simpson, M A S Chapman, J Dawson, D Berry, I A Macdonald, and A Cole In vivo measurement of colonic butyrate metabolism in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis Gut, January 1, 2000; 46(1): 73 - 77. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M J A P Govers, N J Gannon, F R Dunshea, P R Gibson, and J G Muir Wheat bran affects the site of fermentation of resistant starch and luminal indexes related to colon cancer risk: a study in pigs Gut, December 1, 1999; 45(6): 840 - 847. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Wolin, T. L. Miller, S. Yerry, Y. Zhang, S. Bank, and G. A. Weaver Changes of Fermentation Pathways of Fecal Microbial Communities Associated with a Drug Treatment That Increases Dietary Starch in the Human Colon Appl. Envir. Microbiol., July 1, 1999; 65(7): 2807 - 2812. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				I. R Sanderson The physicochemical environment of the neonatal intestine Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 1999; 69 (5): 1028S - 1034S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Pluske, Z. Durmic, D. W. Pethick, B. P. M. and, and D. J. Hampson Confirmation of the Role of Rapidly Fermentable Carbohydrates in the Expression of Swine Dysentery in Pigs after Experimental Infection J. Nutr., October 1, 1998; 128(10): 1737 - 1744. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. Fernandes, T. M. S. Wolever, and A. V. Rao Increased Serum Cholesterol in Healthy Human Methane Producers Is Confounded by Age J. Nutr., August 1, 1998; 128(8): 1349 - 1354. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. K. E. Åkerberg, H. G. M. Liljeberg, Y. E. Granfeldt, A. W. Drews, and I. M. E. Björck An In Vitro Method, Based on Chewing, To Predict Resistant Starch Content in Foods Allows Parallel Determination of Potentially Available Starch and Dietary Fiber J. Nutr., March 1, 1998; 128(3): 651 - 660. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. A. Weaver, C. T. Tangel, J. A. Krause, M. M. Parfitt, P. L. Jenkins, J. M. Rader, B. A. Lewis, T. L. Miller, and M. J. Wolin Acarbose Enhances Human Colonic Butyrate Production J. Nutr., May 1, 1997; 127(5): 717 - 723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Wisker, K. E. B. Knudsen, M. Daniel, B. O. Eggum, and W. Feldheim Energy Values of Non-Starch Polysaccharides: Comparative Studies in Humans and Rats J. Nutr., January 1, 1997; 127(1): 108 - 116. [Abstract] [Full Text]