Cited by 555Gut microbiota and healthMicrobial Metabolites in Food BiotechnologyFood composition and properties

Butyrate production from dietary fibre and protection against large bowel cancer in a rat model.

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McIntyre, A, Gibson, P R, Young, G P·1993·Gut

Abstract

Butyrate slows the growth of cancer cells cultured in vitro. To determine the relevance of the fermentative production of butyrate in vivo, colonic butyrate concentrations were manipulated by feeding different dietary fibres and were related to tumour development in the rat dimethylhydrazine model of large bowel cancer. It has previously been shown that guar gum and oat bran, while highly fermentable, are associated with low butyrate levels in the distal colon, while wheat bran causes significantly higher concentrations. Diets containing these fibres (nominally 10% w:w) were administered for 3 weeks before, for 10 weeks during, and for 20 weeks after dimethylhydrazine administration, after which animals were killed and examined for tumours. Significantly fewer tumours were seen in the rats fed wheat bran compared with those fed guar or oat bran, and the total tumour mass was lowest in rats fed wheat bran. Rats on a 'no added fibre diet' had an intermediate tumour mass. Regression analysis, performed regardless of dietary group, showed that the concentration in stools of butyrate but not of acetate or stool volume, correlated significantly (and negatively) with tumour mass. These findings indicate that fibre which is associated with high butyrate concentrations in the distal large bowel is protective against large bowel cancer, while soluble fibres that do not raise distal butyrate concentrations, are not protective. Thus, butyrate production in vivo does bear a significant relationship to suppression of tumour formation.

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  1. Burkitt DP. Epidemiology of cancer of the colon and rectum. Cancer 1971;28: 3-13.
  2. Kim YS, Tsao D, Siddiqui B. Effects of sodium butyrate and dimethylsulfoxide on biochemical properties of human colon cancer cells. Cancer 1980; 45: 1185-92.

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Authors
McIntyre, A., Gibson, P. R., & Young, G. P.
Affiliations
The Royal Melbourne Hospital (AU)
Venue
Gut
Publisher
BMJ
Published
1993-03
Volume
34
Issue
3
Pages
386-391
ISSN
  • 0017-5749 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-3288
OpenAlex
W2095870639
Cited by
555
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 14
FWCI
4.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Gut (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Medical Research Council
  • National Health and Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Microbial Metabolites in Food Biotechnology
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
Keywords
butyrate, dietary fiber, large bowel cancer, colon cancer chemoprevention, dimethylhydrazine, wheat bran, guar gum, oat bran, colonic fermentation, soluble dietary fiber, tumor mass
MeSH terms
Animals, Butyrates, Edible Grain, Colonic Neoplasms, Dietary Fiber, Dimethylhydrazines, Disease Models, Animal, Fermentation, Galactans, Male, Mannans, Triticum, Rats, Plant Gums

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