title: Colonic fermentation and markers of colorectal-cancer risk.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of soluble fiber on indexes of colon-cancer risk in postpolypectomy and nonpolyp patients. Forty-five postpolypectomy and 49 nonpolyp volunteers completed 2-wk metabolic studies where half of the group received oat-bran supplements and the other half took wheat-brain supplements. Colonic biopsies taken before and after the intervention showed no difference in the index of thymidine colonic-crypt-cell labeling, thymidine-labeling pattern, or nuclear aberrations. Nevertheless, fecal pH was significantly reduced by 0.23 +/- 0.07 pH units (P less than 0.002) as an index of increased colonic fermentation on oat bran. This was not associated with increased basal breath hydrogen concentrations; fecal butyrate concentrations were higher on wheat bran. We conclude that soluble fiber as oat brain appears to have no advantage over wheat bran in modifying putative risk factors for colonic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mount-Sinai Hospital, Toronto.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kashtan
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: L U
authors.initials: LU
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marcon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minkin
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D002087:Butyrates / Q000378:metabolism; D020148:Butyric Acid; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002523:Edible Grain; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D014908:Triticum
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D020148:Butyric Acid; D004247:DNA