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Short-chain fatty acids and commensal microbiota in the faeces of severely malnourished children with cholera rehydrated with three different carbohydrates

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 64, pages 1116–1124 (2010)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) liberated by fermentation of complex carbohydrates might stimulate water and salt absorption, and provide energy. The aim of the study was to assess the number and proportion of faecal bacteria and the concentration of SCFAs of severely malnourished children with cholera receiving oral rehydration solution (ORS) containing glucose, amylase-resistant starch (ARS) or rice.

Methods:

Serial faecal samples were collected from 30 malnourished children with cholera until rehydration and partial nutritional recovery. SCFAs were identified and quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography. In situ hybridization combined with flow cytometry was used to analyse the microbiota in the faeces.

Results:

Before treatment the concentration of total SCFA in faecal sample of cholera children was found to be 4.7±0.6 mmol/kg and it increased steadily until 95.0±8.7 mmol/kg at day 28. Among different ORS groups, concentration was significantly higher in the Rice-ORS group at day 1 (P<0.011) and at day 2 (P<0.025). During recovery faecal output was significantly reduced and the number of bacteria also increased faster in the Rice-ORS group than in the glucose-ORS group at day 1 and day 2 (P<0.01), and a modest increase in bacterial number was observed in the glucose-ORS plus ARS group (day 1, P=0.07; day 2, P=0.09).

Conclusion:

Clinical recovery was associated with an increase in bacterial and SCFA concentrations with all three carbohydrates in ORS. However, the increases were significantly higher in children receiving Rice-ORS.

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Acknowledgements

This study was conducted at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, with support from Nestle Foundation, Lausanne, Switzerland (Grant no. 00332). ICDDR, B acknowledges the commitment of the Nestle Foundation to the centre's research efforts. We acknowledge the service and assistance of the physicians and nurses at the Dhaka Hospital of ICDDR, B. We are thankful to Dr GB Nair for assistance in conducting the study. We are also thankful to Professor Abu Sara Shamsur Rouf, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, for help with laboratory procedures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    S Monira, HPh Endtz, M Alam, M Rahman & N H Alam

  2. Departmment of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Md M Hoq

  3. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    A K A Chowdhury

  4. Department of Biology, EA3199, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France

    A Suau, F Magne, P Pochart & J-F Desjeux

  5. Family Health International, Asia Pacific Regional Office, Bangkok, Thailand

    M Rahman

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Monira, S., Hoq, M., Chowdhury, A. et al. Short-chain fatty acids and commensal microbiota in the faeces of severely malnourished children with cholera rehydrated with three different carbohydrates. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 1116–1124 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.123

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