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Cross-sectional analyses show no association between fibre intake and faecal butyrate level

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2013

Elizabeth A. Williams ,
Daphne Y. L. Lai ,
Jonathan P. Bury ,
Stuart A. Riley ,
Sue Plummer ,
Julian R. Marchesi  and
Bernard M. Corfe
Elizabeth A. Williams
Affiliation:
Human Nutrition Unit, Department of Oncology, University of Sheffield
Daphne Y. L. Lai
Affiliation:
Molecular Gastroenterology Research Group, Department of Oncology, University of Sheffield
Jonathan P. Bury
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
Stuart A. Riley
Affiliation:
Department of Gastroenterology, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield
Sue Plummer
Affiliation:
Obsidian Research Ltd, Port Talbot
Julian R. Marchesi
Affiliation:
Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff, UK
Bernard M. Corfe
Affiliation:
Molecular Gastroenterology Research Group, Department of Oncology, University of Sheffield
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Abstract

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Abstract
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 72 , Issue OCE4: Summer Meeting, 15–18 July 2013, Nutrition and healthy ageing , 2013 , E235
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2013 

Background: Dietary fibre and the fermentation product butyrate have been implicated in promotion of colonic health. The prevailing paradigm is that dietary fibre consumption leads to increased levels of short-chain fatty acids including butyrate, yielding a potential mechanism of action. This concept has been supported by intervention studies of fibre supplementation; however, the evidence-base from cross-sectional analyses is sparse.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the strength of support for a linear relationship between fibre intake and faecal butyrate in the absence of a perturbation/intervention. Two studies were undertaken: (i) a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between habitual fibre intake and faecal butyrate; (ii) a cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between recent (24 hr) fibre intake and faecal butyrate.

Methods: Seventy six subjects were recruited from gastroenterology clinics to a cross-sectional analysis of habitual fibre intake using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Sixteen healthy subjects were recruited to a cross-sectional analysis of recent fibre intake using multiple pass 24 hr recall, sampling was undertaken on 4 occasions, 3 weeks apart. Faecal SCFA were extracted within 3 hr of passing stool and were later analysed by gas chromatography.

Results: When faecal butyrate was compared against habitual fibre intake, no relationship was found (r=0.09, P=0.438 (n=76, all subjects); r=0.092, P=0.597 (n=35, subjects without a pathology). When faecal butyrate was compared against recent fibre intake no relationship was found (r=0.124, P=0.331 – AOAC fibre; r=0.068, P=0.596 – Englyst fibre). When published cross-sectional studies of the fibre-butyrate relationship were reviewed, generally no relationship had been found.

Conclusions: This study suggests that the assumed linear relationship between dietary fibre intake and faecal butyrate does not hold. Both datasets agree with other cross-sectional studies investigating the fibre-butyrate relationship. The hypothesized relationship between fibre intake and faecal butyrate should be re-evaluated.