Differential hydrogen sulfide production by a human cohort in response to animal- and plant-based diet interventions

Impact of diet on hydrogen sulfide production: implications for gut health

“…In contrast, increased dietary fiber intake is associated with decreased H 2 S production in animals and humans [15 ▪ ,17]. In a protein-controlled feeding trial (16.3% crude protein) conducted in swine, compared with a low-fiber diet, a high-fiber diet led to lower protein-associated gas emissions in feces, including a 30% lower ammonia and 17% lower H 2 S [17].…”

“…Increasing the amount of dietary protein increases the amount of nitrogen leaving the terminal ileum [13], and fecal sulfide concentrations increase proportionately with the amount of meat intake [14]. A recent cross-over diet study compared short-term animal-based and plant-based diet interventions and identified protein (as percentage calories and total protein in grams) as a positive contributor to H 2 S production [15 ▪ ]. No effect of short-term diet interventions was observed on the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota or functional gene analysis targeting dissimilatory sulfite reductase subunit A ( dsrA ), which is an enzyme associated with sulfate reduction [15 ▪ ].…”

“…A recent cross-over diet study compared short-term animal-based and plant-based diet interventions and identified protein (as percentage calories and total protein in grams) as a positive contributor to H 2 S production [15 ▪ ]. No effect of short-term diet interventions was observed on the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota or functional gene analysis targeting dissimilatory sulfite reductase subunit A ( dsrA ), which is an enzyme associated with sulfate reduction [15 ▪ ]. Interestingly, a diet enriched for casein, the dominant protein in milk, was shown to increase the abundance of mucin-degrading bacteria, which can also increase H 2 S production from inorganic sulfur [16].…”

“…In a protein-controlled feeding trial (16.3% crude protein) conducted in swine, compared with a low-fiber diet, a high-fiber diet led to lower protein-associated gas emissions in feces, including a 30% lower ammonia and 17% lower H 2 S [17]. In humans, the total fiber in grams, the insoluble fiber in grams, and carbohydrate content reduced H 2 S production [15 ▪ ]. Soluble fiber and H 2 S production tended ( P = 0.06) to be associated.…”

“…where fiber matrices are maintained) led to lower H 2 S production, while animal protein contained in a highly processed, western-style diet (i.e. low-fiber) resulted in higher H 2 S production [15 ▪ ].…”