The Effect of Starch Malabsorption on Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acid Excretion in Man

To study the impact of starch malabsorption on fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations, 11 healthy volunteers consumed a controlled diet rich in starch for 24-week periods. They received the glucosidase inhibitor acarbose (Bay g 5421) in one of the study periods and placebo in the other. Stool wet weight increased by 68% and stool dry weight by 57% with acarbose. The fecal concentration (umol/g wet weight) of n-butyrate (+58%) rose significantly when acarbose was added to the diet. The fecal excretion (mmol/day) of total short-chain fatty acids (+95%) and of their constituents acetate (+97%) and n-butyrate (+182%) was significantly higher when starch malabsorption was induced by acarbose.