An analysis of dietary fiber and fecal fiber components including pH in rural Africans with colorectal cancer

Abstract

Background/AimsColorectal cancer (CRC) is now a major public health problem with heavy morbidity and mortality in rural Africans despite the lingering dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs consumption. Studies have shown that increased intake of dietary fiber which contribute to low fecal pH and also influences the activity of intestinal microbiota, is associated with a lowered risk for CRC. However, whether or not the apparent high dietary fiber consumption by Africans do not longer protects against CRC risk is unknown. This study evaluated dietary fiber intake, fecal fiber components and pH levels in CRC patients.MethodsThirty-five subjects (CRC=21, control=14), mean age 45 years were recruited for the study. A truncated food frequency questionnaire and modified Goering and Van Soest procedures were used.ResultsWe found that all subjects consumed variety of dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs. There is slight preponderance in consumption of dietary fiber by the control group than the CRC patients. We also found a significant difference in the mean fecal neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin contents from the CRC patients compared to the controls (P<0.05). The CRC patients had significantly more fecal pH level than the matched apparently healthy controls (P=0.017).ConclusionsThe identified differences in the fecal fiber components and stool pH levels between the 2 groups may relate to CRC incidence and mortality in rural Africans. There is crucial need for more hypothesis-driven research with adequate funding on the cumulative preventive role of dietary fiber-rich foodstuffs against colorectal cancer in rural Africans “today.”

Evaluation of graded levels of corn-fermented protein on stool quality, apparent nutrient digestibility, and palatability in healthy adult cats

“…Fecal pH was lowest ( P < 0.05) for cats consuming the 10C treatment. This result was interesting as differences were expected for the 15C treatment rather than the 10C treatment as previous studies reported increased fiber intake associated with lower fecal pH ( Faruk et al, 2018).…”

Prevotella enterotype associates with diets supporting acidic faecal pH and production of propionic acid by microbiota

“…Often, low transit rate and low BSS accompany with high abundance of Akkermansia [ 17 , 45 ]. Furthermore, constipation and high faecal pH may be related to colorectal cancer (Tabel 1) [ 3 , 40 ]. In accordance with this, enhanced growth of Akkermansia at high pH and slow dilution rates was demonstrated in in vitro cultivation experiments with faecal cultures [ 15 , 46 ].…”

Perioperative Factors Affecting the Healing of Rectovaginal Fistula

“…Taking into account the previously described poor healing of fistulae resulting from CD, the use of FMT in these patients may be a breakthrough in its treatment. Moreover, it seems important to use FMT to reduce diarrhea, and to implement fiber supplementation, which will increase stool volume, thus preventing feces from entering the fistula and the overgrowth of bacterial species [65,84]. Probiotics, in turn, due to their ability to lower glycaemia and cholesterol [55,56], seem to be helpful in patients with RVF and concomitant diabetes or hypertension.…”

“…Dietary fiber actually has an effect on stool volume due to the reduction in the concentration of substances such as bile acid. The stool of patients taking dietary fiber is harder than that of patients not taking it [84]. Moreover, increased fiber intake leads to a decrease in fecal pH [85].…”