The contribution of the large intestine to energy supplies in man
Abstract
Herbivores obtain a considerable proportion of energy requirements from carbohydrate by the chain of anaerobic carbohydrate fermentation producing short-chain fatty acids that are absorbed then metabolized. The evidence for this sequence occurring in the large intestine of man is reviewed and estimated to produce 5 to 10% of human energy requirements. Further small amounts of energy may come from large intestinal absorption of fat and the bacterial breakdown products of protein.
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People consuming a typical British diet in the 1980s obtained 6-10% of their energy from short-chain fatty acids.
“it has been estimated that people who consumed a typical British diet in the 1980s received 6–10% of their energy from short-chain fatty acids37.”
From Diet–microbiota interactions as moderators of human metabolism (2016) · cites this paper as [37]
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- Authors
- N I, M.
- Venue
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1984-02
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 338-342
- ISSN
- 0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2126728659
- Cited by
- 691
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 36 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 37
- FWCI
- 1.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
- Keywords
- large intestine, human energy metabolism, short-chain fatty acids, bacterial fermentation, energy contribution, fat absorption, human nutrition
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Dietary Fiber, Energy Metabolism, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Fermentation, Horses, Humans, Intestinal Absorption, Intestine, Large, Rabbits, Sheep, Swine, Carbohydrate Metabolism
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