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Cited by 3,119Gut microbiota and healthGastrointestinal motility and disordersMicrobial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology

Short chain fatty acids in human large intestine, portal, hepatic and venous blood

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Cummings, J H, Pomare, E W, Branch, W J, Naylor, C P, Macfarlane, G T·1987·Gut
DOI 10.1136/gut.28.10.1221PMC PMC1433442
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Abstract

Evidence for the occurrence of microbial breakdown of carbohydrate in the human colon has been sought by measuring short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations in the contents of all regions of the large intestine and in portal, hepatic and peripheral venous blood obtained at autopsy of sudden death victims within four hours of death. Total SCFA concentration (mmol/kg) was low in the terminal ileum at 13 +/- 6 but high in all regions of the colon ranging from 131 +/- 9 in the caecum to 80 +/- 11 in the descending colon. The presence of branched chain fatty acids was also noted. A significant trend from high to low concentrations was found on passing distally from caecum to descending colon. pH also changed with region from 5.6 +/- 0.2 in the caecum to 6.6 +/- 0.1 in the descending colon. pH and SCFA concentrations were inversely related. Total SCFA (mumol/l) in blood was, portal 375 +/- 70, hepatic 148 +/- 42 and peripheral 79 +/- 22. In all samples acetate was the principal anion but molar ratios of the three principal SCFA changed on going from colonic contents to portal blood to hepatic vein indicating greater uptake of butyrate by the colonic epithelium and propionate by the liver. These data indicate that substantial carbohydrate, and possibly protein, fermentation is occurring in the human large intestine, principally in the caecum and ascending colon and that the large bowel may have a greater role to play in digestion than has previously been ascribed to it.

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Crossref · 10.1136/gut.28.10.1221

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  • The remainder of butyrate and the majority of propionate are metabolized by hepatocytes, resulting in 1-15 μmol/L concentrations of propionate and butyrate in circulation, whereas acetate is found at 100-200 μmol/L.

    “The remainder of butyrate, as well as the majority of propionate, is subsequently metabolized by hepatocytes, resulting in 1-to 15-µmol/L concentrations of propionate and butyrate in circulation, whereas acetate is found within a range of 100-200 µmol/L (Bloemen et al., 2009;Cummings et al., 1987;Peters et al.,”

    From The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis (2019) · cites this paper as Cummings et al., 1987

    Table 3 reports that propionate and butyrate fall substantially between portal and hepatic blood, and the Discussion attributes significant SCFA uptake to the liver. Peripheral propionate and butyrate averages are about 5 and 4 µmol/L, within the claimed range. However, peripheral acetate averages about 70 µmol/L, not 100–200 µmol/L; the paper reports an arterial acetate value of 126 µmol/L from a previous study. It also demonstrates hepatic uptake rather than directly measuring metabolism by hepatocytes. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Only a minor fraction of colon-derived acetate, propionate, and butyrate reaches the systemic circulation and other tissues.

    “only a minor fraction of colon-derived acetate, propionate, and butyrate reaches the systemic circulation and other tissues (65).”

    From The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication (2020) · cites this paper as [65]

  • Total colonic contents range from 83 to 421 g in a small study of sudden-death victims.

    “with total colonic contents ranging from 83 to 421 g in a small study of sudden-death victims 12 .”

    From Human microbiome myths and misconceptions (2023) · cites this paper as [12]

  • The total weight of the human microbiota is much more likely to be less than 500 g, and perhaps even considerably lower in some cases.

    “the total weight of the human microbiota is much more likely to be less than 500 g, and perhaps even considerably lower than this in some cases.”

    From Human microbiome myths and misconceptions (2023) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Results and Discussion report short-chain fatty acid concentrations and fermentation in the colon, not the total weight of the human microbiota. Searches for microbial biomass, 500 g, and the weight of colonic contents found no passage supporting the claimed estimate. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The claim that the human microbiota weighs 1 to 2 kg is unlikely to be true in most cases.

    “Nonetheless, it is unlikely to be true in most cases.”

    From Human microbiome myths and misconceptions (2023) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Discussion addresses microbial fermentation and short-chain fatty acids in the colon, but does not assess the microbiota’s weight. Searches for bacterial mass and 1–2 kg found no passage supporting or contradicting the claim. (LLM, conf=0.74)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [1]1. I Anderson IH, Levine AS, Levitt MD. incomplctc absorption of the carbohydrate in all-purposc whcat flour. N Engl J Med 1981; 304: 891-2.
  2. [42]42. Wirthensohn, K. Der Stoffwechsel kurzkettiger Fettsauren im Colonepithel des Meerschweinchens und seine Bedeutung fur die Natriumresoption. Thesis: University of Hohenheim, 1981.

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Authors
Cummings, J. H., Pomare, E. W., Branch, W. J., Naylor, C. P., & Macfarlane, G. T.
ORCID
Cummings, J H
Venue
Gut
Publisher
BMJ
Published
1987-10
Volume
28
Issue
10
Pages
1221-1227
ISSN
  • 0017-5749 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-3288
DOI
10.1136/gut.28.10.1221
PMC
PMC1433442
OpenAlex
W2135232490
Semantic Scholar
0b69822ab4496079e2f7a3e1df829e5fa9a9926c
Cited by
3,119
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 171 · 2025: 194 · 2024: 240 · 2023: 237 · 2022: 277 · 2021: 270 · 2020: 216 · 2019: 180 · 2018: 142 · 2017: 99 · 2016: 113 · 2015: 66 · 2014: 59 · 2013: 66 · 2012: 58
FWCI
5.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Gut (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Otago
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
Keywords
short-chain fatty acids, colonic fermentation, cecum, large intestine, portal blood, hepatic vein, peripheral venous blood, propionate, acetate, branched-chain fatty acids, colonic pH, carbohydrate fermentation, protein fermentation, colonic epithelium, human colon
MeSH terms
Acetates, Animals, Butyrates, Fatty Acids, Female, Fermentation, Gastrointestinal Contents, Hepatic Veins, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Intestine, Large, Male, Portal Vein, Propionates, Swine, Acetic Acid, Butyric Acid

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