Short-Chain Fatty Acid and Organic Acid Concentrations in Feces of Healthy Human Volunteers and Their Correlation with Anaerobe Cultural Counts during Systemic Ceftriaxone Administration

Abstract

Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and organic acid concentrations and (an)aerobe cultural counts were determined simultaneously in fresh feces from 10 human volunteers before, during, and after 5 days of single-dose ceftriaxone administration. The changes and the correlation coefficients between these variables were tested to be significant (P less than 0.05). to investigate whether significant changes in the intestinal microflora could be predicted by significant changes in SCFA/organic acid concentrations. Multivariate analysis was used with the same objective. Significant decreases in most SCFA, total SCFA (0.01 less than P less than 0.02), and pyruvic acid (0.02 less than P less than 0.05) concentrations in feces were found on day 3 of treatment and also on day 5, with the exception of the pyruvic acid concentrations. Lactic acid concentrations, however, were significantly increased (0.01 less than P less than 0.02) on day 5. All anaerobic cultural counts were significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) on days 3 and 5 of treatment except those for Clostridium difficile agar, which were only decreased on day 5. Highly significant correlations were found on day 3 between the total anaerobe counts (P less than 0.001), the Bacteroides counts (P less than 0.001), and propionic acid, of which the latter had a predictive value during treatment. The results of multivariate analysis were significant but did not have a predictive value. From this study we can conclude that propionic acid concentrations during ceftriaxone treatment in healthy volunteers have a predictive value for the Bacteroides cultural counts. The results of this study must be confirmed by those from patients treated with ceftriaxone.

Fecal short-chain fatty acids at different time points after ceftriaxone administration in rats

“…Concentrations of valeric, iso valeric and caproic acids were below the detectable level of parameters of chromatographic separation. These data are consistent with the results of Meijer-Severs et al [26], in which treatment of healthy volunteers with ceftriaxone for 5 days resulted in a significant decrease in the fecal concentration of SCFAs on the 3 rd and 5 th day. Our previous study [27] showed that next day after ceftriaxone withdrawal the composition of colon parietal microbiota was not significantly changed.…”

Lactobacillus plantarum 299v Enhances the Concentrations of Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Patients with Recurrent Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea

“…The fact that higher concentrations of these OAs were seen during antibiotic intake, especially in the Lactobacillus group not developing recurrences, may support the hypothesis of the beneficial effect of lactobacilli on the gut flora [10,18]. In a study in healthy volunteers, Meyer-Severs et al [25] found that administration of ceftriaxon decreased the concentrations of SCFAs but increased the level of lactate in feces. Interestingely, in our study the Lp299v group showed no difference in lactate compared to pretreatment levels.…”

Anaerobes and their fermentation products in faeces of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis before and after subtotal colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis

“…Fresh faecal samples from 10 healthy human volunteers (seven men and three women between 22 and 42 years, with an average of 34 years) were used for comparison [7]. Ten samples could be used for comparison of cultural counts, and nine samples were available for SCFA/organic acid analysis.…”

“…Faecal samples were collected after administration of a phosphate enema before flexible endoscopy. The fresh faecal samples from spontaneous defaecation were collected as described previously [7]. All samples were transported to the laboratory within 30 min, and processed immediately.…”