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Starch fermentation by faecal bacteria of infants, toddlers and adults: importance for energy salvage

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 1486–1491 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: Little is known of the degree to which the colon salvages energy through starch fermentation in young children. Using a simulated colonic environment, we aimed to account for the fate of fermented raw and cooked starch in two groups of young children and in adults.

Design: A slurry was prepared from faecal samples from six infants (7–10 months), six toddlers (16–21 months) and seven adults (24–56 y). Each slurry was anaerobically incubated with raw or cooked maize starch in MacCartney bottles in a shaking water bath. Parallel incubations were stopped at 4 and 24 h. The headspace gas volume was analysed for CO2 and methane. The culture supernatant was analysed for short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), lactate and residual starch.

Results: Different patterns of fermentation were seen at 4 and 24 h. For raw starch, the production of SCFA decreased with subject age at 4 h but not at 24 h. With both substrates at 4 h, toddler stools produced significantly more CO2 than infants or adults, but there were no statistical differences at 24 h. Methane was detected in three adults only. Lactate was detected mainly at 4 h in children.

Conclusions: The results suggest that fermentation, particularly of raw starch, is a more rapid process in young children than in adults. A highly efficient energy salvage process may occur in the colon of young children.

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Acknowledgements

Martin Christian was funded by the Nutricia Foundation.

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Author notes

  1. M T Christian, C A Edwards, T Preston, L Johnston, R Varley and L T Weaver: Contributors: The study was designed by CAE and LTW. Laboratory analysis was carried out by MTC, RV, LJ and TP. Data analysis was carried out by MTC overseen by CAE, TP and LTW.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child Health, University of Glasgow, Yorkhill Hospital, Glasgow, G3 8SJ, UK

    M T Christian & L T Weaver

  2. Department of Human Nutrition, University of Glasgow, Yorkhill Hospital, Glasgow, G3 8SJ, UK

    C A Edwards, L Johnston & R Varley

  3. Scottish Universities' Environmental Research Centre, East Kilbride, G75 0QU, UK

    T Preston

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  1. M T Christian
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  2. C A Edwards
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  3. T Preston
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  4. L Johnston
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  5. R Varley
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  6. L T Weaver
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Correspondence to C A Edwards.

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Christian, M., Edwards, C., Preston, T. et al. Starch fermentation by faecal bacteria of infants, toddlers and adults: importance for energy salvage. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 1486–1491 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601715

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