Impact of the source of fermentable carbohydrate on SCFA production by human gut microbiota in vitro - a systematic scoping review and secondary analysis

Abstract

Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are produced by bacterial fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates (NDC) and have many potential tissue and SCFA specific actions, from providing fuel for colonic cells to appetite regulation. Many studies have described the fermentation of different carbohydrates, often using in vitro batch culture. As evidence-based critical evaluation of substrates selectively promoting production of individual SCFA is lacking, we performed a systematic scoping literature review. Databases were searched to identify relevant papers published between 1900 and 12/06/2016. Search terms included In vitro batch fermentation and In vitro short chain fatty acid production. Articles were considered for essential criteria allowing equivalent comparison of SCFA between NDC. Seventy seven articles were included in the final analysis examining 29 different carbohydrates. After 24-hour fermentation, galacto-oligosaccharide ranked highest for butyrate and total SCFA production and second for acetate production. Rhamnose ranked highest for propionate production. The lowest SCFA production was observed for kiwi fiber, polydextrose, and cellulose. This review demonstrates that choosing a substrate to selectively enhance a specific SCFA is difficult, and the molar proportion of each SCFA produced by individual substrates may be misleading. Instead the rate and ratio of SCFA production should be evaluated in parallel.

KEYWORDS:

• Batch fermentation
• colon model
• NDC
• short chain fatty acids

Author contributions

H.C.H., C.A.E. and D.J.M. designed the review, and wrote the manuscript, H.C.H. performed the review and analysis. All authors contributed to writing the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by a BBSRC DRINC Doctoral Training Grant BB/H532091/1.