Impact of glycosidic bond configuration on short chain fatty acid production from model fermentable carbohydrates by the human gut microbiota

Morrison, D. J. , Harris, H. C. and Edwards, C. A. (2017) Impact of glycosidic bond configuration on short chain fatty acid production from model fermentable carbohydrates by the human gut microbiota. Nutrients, 9(1), 26. (doi: 10.3390/nu9010026) (PMID:28045429)

Abstract

Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are the major products of carbohydrate fermentation by gut bacteria. Different carbohydrates are associated with characteristic SCFA profiles although the mechanisms are unclear. The individual SCFA profile may determine any resultant health benefits. Understanding determinants of individual SCFA production would enable substrate choice to be tailored for colonic SCFA manipulation. To test the hypothesis that the orientation and position of the glycosidic bond is a determinant of SCFA production profile, a miniaturized in vitro human colonic batch fermentation model was used to study a range of isomeric glucose disaccharides. Diglucose α(1-1) fermentation led to significantly higher butyrate production (p < 0.01) and a lower proportion of acetate (p < 0.01) compared with other α bonded diglucoses. Diglucose β(1-4) also led to significantly higher butyrate production (p < 0.05) and significantly increased the proportions of propionate and butyrate compared with diglucose α(1-4) (p < 0.05). There was no significant effect of glycosidic bond configuration on absolute propionate production. Despite some differences in the SCFA production of different glucose disaccharides, there was no clear relationship between SCFA production and bond configuration, suggesting that other factors may be responsible for promoting selective SCFA production by the gut microbiota from different carbohydrates.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Edwards, Professor Christine and Morrison, Dr Douglas
• Authors: Morrison, D. J., Harris, H. C., and Edwards, C. A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing; College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Nutrients
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2072-6643
• ISSN (Online): 2072-6643
• Published Online: 01 January 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Nutrients 9(1):26
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License