title: In vitro and in vivo effects of three bismuth compounds on fermentation by colonic bacteria.
abstract: Three bismuth compounds (tripotassium dicitrate bismuthate, bismuth subsalicylate, and bismuth subnitrate) were tested in vitro and in vivo for their effect on fermentation by colonic bacteria. The studies in vitro were done with use of a technique designed to determine the effect of each one of the bismuth compounds on the fermentation of several stool samples that had been mixed with lactose as additional fermentable substrate (fermentation of lactose-enriched stools, FLES). The three bismuth compounds reduced FLES significantly in 47 (81%) of 58 of the stool samples used to test their effect. Bismuth subsalicylate, which reduced FLES in 10 of 10 stool samples, showed the greatest reduction (mean reduction, 74%; P less than .0001). The in vivo studies, done in six flatulent patients, showed significant reduction (P less than .01) of colonic fermentation of ingested raffinose by oral bismuth subnitrate given for 8 days.
authors.affiliation: Alexander von Humboldt Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: León-Barúa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tello
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Morante
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Spira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000863:Antacids / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001729:Bismuth / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001944:Breath Tests; D003106:Colon / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005414:Flatulence / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D011887:Raffinose / Q000378:metabolism; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000863:Antacids; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012459:Salicylates; C015715:bismuth subsalicylate; C010804:bismuth subnitrate; C002791:bismuth tripotassium dicitrate; D007785:Lactose; D011887:Raffinose; D001729:Bismuth