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Clinical Studies and Practice

Evidence for greater production of colonic short-chain fatty acids in overweight than lean humans

International Journal of Obesity volume 38, pages 1525–1531 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are produced by colonic microbiota from dietary carbohydrates and proteins that reach the colon. It has been suggested that SCFA may promote obesity via increased colonic energy availability. Recent studies suggest obese humans have higher faecal SCFA than lean, but it is unclear whether this difference is due to increased SCFA production or reduced absorption.

Objectives:

To compare rectal SCFA absorption, dietary intake and faecal microbial profile in lean (LN) versus overweight and obese (OWO) individuals.

Design:

Eleven LN and eleven OWO individuals completed a 3-day diet record, provided a fresh faecal sample and had SCFA absorption measured using the rectal dialysis bag method. The procedures were repeated after 2 weeks.

Results:

Age-adjusted faecal SCFA concentration was significantly higher in OWO than LN individuals (81.3±7.4 vs 64.1±10.4 mmol kg−1, P=0.023). SCFA absorption (24.4±0.8% vs 24.7±1.2%, respectively, P=0.787) and dietary intakes were similar between the groups, except for a higher fat intake in OWO individuals. However, fat intake did not correlate with SCFAs or bacterial abundance. OWO individuals had higher relative Firmicutes abundance (83.1±4.1 vs 69.5±5.8%, respectively, P=0.008) and a higher Firmicutes:Bacteriodetes ratio (P=0.023) than LN individuals. There was a positive correlation between Firmicutes and faecal SCFA within the whole group (r=0.507, P=0.044), with a stronger correlation after adjusting for available carbohydrate (r=0.615, P=0.005).

Conclusions:

The higher faecal SCFA in OWO individuals is not because of differences in SCFA absorption or diet. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that OWO individuals produce more colonic SCFA than LN individuals because of differences in colonic microbiota. However, further studies are needed to prove this.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jean M Macklaim for support in statistical analysis of microbial data. This work is supported by grant no.OOP-64648 from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes. This study was funded by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant #486906.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada,

    S Rahat-Rozenbloom, J Fernandes & T M S Wolever

  2. Department of Biochemistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

    G B Gloor

  3. and Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre, St Michael's Hospital Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    T M S Wolever

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Correspondence to T M S Wolever.

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Rahat-Rozenbloom, S., Fernandes, J., Gloor, G. et al. Evidence for greater production of colonic short-chain fatty acids in overweight than lean humans. Int J Obes 38, 1525–1531 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2014.46

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