title: Fasting serum concentration of short-chain fatty acids in subjects with microscopic colitis and celiac disease: no difference compared with controls, but between genders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly propionic and butyric acids, have been shown to have many positive health effects. The amount and type of SCFAs formed from dietary fibre by the colonic microbiota depends on the substrate available and is reflected in blood. The total intake and type of dietary fibre in people with gastrointestinal diseases differs considerably from healthy subjects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare fasting SCFA concentrations in subjects with microscopic colitis (MC), celiac disease and controls without these diseases. SCFAs were also analysed over 6.5 h in young healthy subjects, who had eaten a fibre-rich breakfast, to identify a possible peak concentration of SCFAs after a meal.
  
  
  METHODS
  SCFAs in serum were pre-concentrated using hollow fibre-supported liquid membrane extraction and gas chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MC group had a higher concentration of valeric acid than the control group (p < 0.01). No significant differences in other SCFA concentrations were seen between groups, but the control group tended to have higher concentration of acetic acid (p = 0.1). Furthermore, males had higher concentrations of SCFAs (with the exception of valeric acid) than females (p < 0.05), which were independent of groups. The peaks for acetic, propionic and butyric acids came approximately 5 h, 6.5 h and 2-3 h, respectively, after breakfast.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fasting concentrations of SCFAs were quite similar, although the fibre intake had probably been quite different for a long time. The results might have been different if SCFAs had been recorded over a longer period.
authors.affiliation: Applied Nutrition and Food Chemistry, Kemicentrum, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Greta.Jakobsdottir@appliednutrition.lth.se
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jakobsdottir
authors.forename: Jens Holst
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bjerregaard
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skovbjerg
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyman
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D020148:Butyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood*; D046728:Colitis, Microscopic / Q000097:blood*; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005215:Fasting; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D006801:Humans; D058610:Isobutyrates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010421:Pentanoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011422:Propionates / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D045782:Hemiterpenes; D058610:Isobutyrates; D010421:Pentanoic Acids; D011422:Propionates; D020148:Butyric Acid; C008216:isovaleric acid; C020380:isobutyric acid; C038780:n-pentanoic acid; C029658:propionic acid; D019342:Acetic Acid