Effect of butyrate enemas on inflammation and antioxidant status in the colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis in remission.
OBJECTIVE
Butyrate, produced by colonic fermentation of dietary fibers is often hypothesized to beneficially affect colonic health. This study aims to assess the effects of butyrate on inflammation and oxidative stress in subjects with chronically mildly elevated parameters of inflammation and oxidative stress.


METHODS
Thirty-five patients with ulcerative colitis in clinical remission daily administered 60 ml rectal enemas containing 100mM sodium butyrate (n=17) or saline (n=18) during 20 days (NCT00696098). Before and after the intervention feces, blood and colonic mucosal biopsies were obtained. Parameters of antioxidant defense and oxidative damage, myeloperoxidase, several cytokines, fecal calprotectin and CRP were determined.


RESULTS
Butyrate enemas induced minor effects on colonic inflammation and oxidative stress. Only a significant increase of the colonic IL-10/IL-12 ratio was found within butyrate-treated patients (p=0.02), and colonic concentrations of CCL5 were increased after butyrate compared to placebo treatment (p=0.03). Although in general butyrate did not affect colonic glutathione levels, the effects of butyrate enemas on total colonic glutathione appeared to be dependent on the level of inflammation.


CONCLUSIONS
Although UC patients in remission were characterized by low-grade oxidative stress and inflammation, rectal butyrate enemas showed only minor effects on inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters.
Hamer
Henrike M
HM
TI Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Jonkers
Daisy M A E
DM
Vanhoutvin
Steven A L W
SA
Troost
Freddy J
FJ
Rijkers
Ger
G
de Bruïne
Adriaan
A
Bast
Aalt
A
Venema
Koen
K
Brummer
Robert-Jan M
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D002087:Butyrates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*
D000975:Antioxidants; D002087:Butyrates; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12