Background: Production of Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from food is a complex and dynamic saccharolytic fermentation process mediated by both human and gut microbial factors. SCFA production and knowledge of the relationship between SCFA profiles and dietary patterns is lacking.
Objective: Temporal changes in SCFA levels in response to two contrasting diets were investigated using a novel GC-MS method.
Design: Samples were obtained from a randomized, controlled, crossover trial designed to characterize the metabolic response to four diets. Participants (n=19) undertook these diets during an inpatient stay (of 72-h). Serum samples were collected 2-h after breakfast (AB), lunch (AL) and dinner (AD) on day 3 and a fasting sample (FA) was obtained on day 4. 24-h urine samples were collected on day 3. In this sub-study, samples from the two extreme diets representing a diet with high adherence to WHO healthy eating recommendations and a typical Western diet were analyzed using a bespoke GC-MS method developed to detect and quantify 10 SCFAs and precursors in serum and urine samples.
Results: Considerable inter-individual variation in serum SCFA concentrations was observed across all time points and temporal fluctuations were observed for both diets. Although the sample collection timing exerted a greater magnitude of effect on circulating SCFA concentrations, the unhealthy diet was associated with a lower concentration of acetic acid (FA: coefficient=-17.0; standard error (SE)=5.8; p-trend=0.00615), 2-methylbutyric acid (AL: coefficient=-0.1; SE=0.028; p-trend=4.13x10-4 and AD: coefficient =-0.1; SE:=0.028; p-trend=2.28x10-3) and 2-hydroxybutyric acid (FA: coefficient=-15.8; standard error=5.11; p-trend: 4.09x10-3). In contrast lactic acid was significantly higher in the unhealthy diet (AL: coefficient=750.2; standard error=315.2; p-trend=0.024 and AD: coefficient=1219.3; standard error=322.6; p-trend: 8.28x10-4).
Conclusion: The GC-MS method allowed robust mapping of diurnal patterns in SCFA concentrations, which were impacted by diet and highlighted the importance of standardizing the timing of SCFA measurements in dietary studies.