Effect of acetate and propionate on calcium absorption from the rectum and distal colon of humans

Abstract

To determine the effects of acetate and propionate on calcium absorption from the human distal colon and rectum, six healthy human subjects were given rectal infusions containing 50 mmol CaCl2/L on four separate occasions. Addition of 56.3 mmol acetate/L, 18.7 mmol propionate/L, or acetate and propionate together increased calcium disappearance (expressed as the change in the ratio of calcium to polyethylene glycol) from -5.5 +/- 1.4 to -22.6 +/- 2.8, -23.2 +/- 3.2, and -19.7 +/- 4.6, respectively; P < 0.05. To determine the effects of different acetate and propionate concentrations, six different subjects were studied further. The effects of 18.7 or 56.3 mmol acetate/L on calcium absorption were the same as those of 18.7 mmol propionate/L (-15.7 +/- 1.4), and less than those of 56.3 mmol propionate/L (-20.3 +/- 2.4, P < 0.05). We conclude that both acetate and propionate enhance calcium absorption from the human distal colon, but that propionate has a greater effect at higher concentrations. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanism of calcium absorption from the colon.

Effect of soluble or partly soluble dietary fibres supplementation on absorption and balance of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc in healthy young men

“…This observation was recently con®rmed by other workers also in animal studies (Delzenne et al, 1995;Ohta et al, 1995). Unfortunately, limited information is available for humans, and only indirect evidence that this effect could occur in humans has been reported (Trinidad et al, 1993(Trinidad et al, , 1996. As part of a larger project concerning the effects of dietary ®bres in human nutrition, we have studied the consequences for human physiology and nutrition of an increased intake of soluble ®bre (inulin) in comparison to partly soluble (sugar beet) ®bre.…”

Absorptive Activity of Calcium in the Isolated Cecal Epithelium Adaptively Increased by 2 Week's Feeding of Difructose Anhydride III in Rats

“…8) Luminal perfusion of SCFAs also increases Ca absorption in the colon in rats. 9) In our previous study using the same chamber technique, luminal application of SCFA increased net Ca transport from the mucosal side to the serosal side in isolated epithelial tissue of the cecum and colon in rats in vitro.…”

Long-Term Administration of 4G-.BETA.-D-Galactosylsucrose (Lactosucrose) Enhances Intestinal Calcium Absorption in Young Women: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled 96-wk Study

“…Colonic fermentation of NOD leads to the formation of high concentrations of shortchain fatty acids (SCFA) and the presence of Ca 2 ϩ and Mg 2 ϩ in the colonic lumen ( 13,14). In addition, it has been hypothesized that NOD stimulate transcellular calcium absorption by a direct effect of the SCFA that are produced (15,16). Calbindin plays an important role in the intracellular diffusion rate of the calcium ion (17), and the amount of calbindin has been found to be increased in both cecal and colorectal segments in gastrectomized rats fed fructooligosaccharides (18).…”