Effects of Liver Resection on Hepatic Short-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism in Humans.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether acute loss of liver tissue affects hepatic short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) clearance.


METHODS
Blood was sampled from the radial artery, portal vein, and hepatic vein before and after hepatic resection in 30 patients undergoing partial liver resection. Plasma SCFA levels were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. SCFA exchange across gut and liver was calculated from arteriovenous differences and plasma flow. Liver volume was estimated by CT liver volumetry.


RESULTS
The gut produced significant amounts of acetate, propionate, and butyrate (39.4±13.5, 6.2±1.3, and 9.5±2.6 μmol·kgbw-1·h-1), which did not change after partial hepatectomy (p = 0.67, p = 0.59 and p = 0.24). Hepatic propionate uptake did not differ significantly before and after resection (-6.4±1.4 vs. -8.4±1.5 μmol·kgbw-1·h-1, p = 0.49). Hepatic acetate and butyrate uptake increased significantly upon partial liver resection (acetate: -35.1±13.0 vs. -39.6±9.4 μmol·kgbw-1·h-1, p = 0.0011; butyrate: -9.9±2.7 vs. -11.5±2.4 μmol·kgbw-1·h-1, p = 0.0006). Arterial SCFA concentrations were not different before and after partial liver resection (acetate: 176.9±17.3 vs. 142.3±12.5 μmol/L, p = 0.18; propionate: 7.2±1.4 vs. 5.6±0.6 μmol/L, p = 0.38; butyrate: 4.3±0.7 vs. 3.6±0.6 μmol/L, p = 0.73).


CONCLUSIONS
The liver maintains its capacity to clear acetate, propionate, and butyrate from the portal blood upon acute loss of liver tissue.
TI Food and Nutrition, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands.|Department of Surgery, NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Evelien P J G
EP
Neis
TI Food and Nutrition, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands.|Department of Surgery, NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Johanne G
JG
Bloemen
Department of Surgery, NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Sander S
SS
Rensen
Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Joost R
JR
van der Vorst
Department of Surgery, NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.|Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Maartje A
MA
van den Broek
TI Food and Nutrition, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands.|Beneficial Microbes Consultancy, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Koen
K
Venema
Department of Surgery, NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Wim A
WA
Buurman
TI Food and Nutrition, 6709 PA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Cornelis H C
CH
Dejong
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020148:Butyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000378:metabolism; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011422:Propionates; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000378:metabolism
D000085:Acetates; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D011422:Propionates; D020148:Butyric Acid