ABSTRACT
Butyrate is an important substrate for maintenance of colonic health and oligofructose fermentation by human faecal bacteria can increase butyrate production in vitro. However, oligofructose appears to be fermented by mainly acetate and lactate-producing bacteria rather than butyrate-producing bacteria. Isotope labelling studies using [U-(13)C(6)]glucose were used to show that (13)C(2) and (13)C(4) were the major labelled butyrate species produced from glucose fermentation, via [(13)C(2)]acetate-acetyl CoA as intermediate. Bacterial interconversion reactions were quantified and acetate conversion to butyrate and lactate conversion to acetate, propionate and butyrate were observed. Addition of oligofructose to faecal batch cultures significantly increased butyrate production. Of the newly synthesised butyrate from oligofructose fermentation, 80 % was derived from interconversion of extracellular acetate and lactate, with acetate being quantitatively more significant. Carbohydrates, such as oligofructose, have prebiotic properties. In addition, oligofructose selectively stimulates the bacterial conversion of acetate and lactate to butyrate. Carbohydrates with similar properties represent a refinement of the prebiotic definition, termed butyrogenic prebiotics, because of their additional functionality.
Subject(s)
Acetates/metabolism , Butyrates/metabolism , Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism , Feces/microbiology , Lactic Acid/metabolism , Oligosaccharides/metabolism , Adult , Carbon Isotopes , Female , Fermentation/physiology , Glucose/metabolism , Humans , Male , Middle AgedSubject(s)
Carbon Dioxide/metabolism , Gastrointestinal Transit , Lactose , Urea/analogs & derivatives , Adolescent , Breath Tests , Child , Child, Preschool , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Humans , Infant , Lactose/metabolism , Male , Reproducibility of Results , Urea/metabolism , WeaningABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The colon salvages energy from starch, especially when the capacity of the small intestine to digest it is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the site and relative extent of starch digestion and fermentation in infants. METHODS: Thirteen infants (10 male and 3 female infants), median age 11.8 months (range, 7.6-22.7 months), were fed a starchy breakfast containing 13C-labeled wheat flour after an overnight fast. Duplicate breath samples were obtained before breakfast and every 30 minutes for 12 hours. Breath 13CO2 enrichment was measured using isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and results were expressed as percentage dose recovered (PDR) for each 30 minutes. The PDR data were analyzed and mathematically modeled assuming either a constant estimate of CO2 production rate or adjusted for physical activity. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD cumulative 13C PDR (cPDR) at 12 hours was 21.3% +/- 8.4% for unadjusted data and 26.5% +/- 11.6% for adjusted data. A composite model of two curves fit significantly better than a single curve. Modeling allowed estimation of cPDRs of small intestine (17.5% +/- 6.5% and 22.7% +/- 9.3% for unadjusted and adjusted data, respectively) and colon (4.6% +/- 2.9% and 6.3% +/- 5.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Modeling of 13CO2 enrichment curves after ingestion of 13C-enriched wheat flour is an attractive means to estimate the contribution of the upper and lower gut to starch digestion and fermentation.
Subject(s)
Carbon Dioxide/analysis , Colon/metabolism , Starch/metabolism , Breath Tests , Carbon Isotopes , Digestion , Female , Fermentation , Humans , Infant , Kinetics , Male , Mass Spectrometry , Models, BiologicalABSTRACT
As starting materials for heterobimetallic complexes, [RuCp(PPh(3))CO(PPh(2)H)]PF(6) and [RuCp(PPh(3))CO(eta(1)-dppm)]PF(6) were prepared from RuCp(PPh(3))(CO)Cl. In the course of preparing [RuCp(eta(2)-dppm)(eta(1)-dppm)]Cl from RuCp(Ph(3)P)(eta(1)-dppm)Cl, the new monomer RuCpCl(eta(1)-dppm)(2) was isolated. The uncommon coordination mode of the two monodentate bis(phosphines) was confirmed by X-ray crystallography [a = 11.490(1) Å, b = 14.869(2) Å, c = 15.447(2) Å, alpha = 84.63(1) degrees, beta = 70.55(1) degrees, gamma = 72.92(1) degrees, V = 2378.7(5) Å(3), d(calc) = 1.355 g cm(-)(3) (298 K), triclinic, P&onemacr;, Z = 2]. The dppm-bridged bimetallic complexes RuCp(PPh(3))Cl(&mgr;-dppm)PtCl(2), RuCpCl(&mgr;-dppm)(2)PtCl(2), and [RuCp(PPh(3))CO(&mgr;-dppm)PtCl(2)]PF(6) each exhibit electrochemistry consistent with varying degrees of metal-metal interaction. The cationic heterobimetallic complexes [Mo(CO)(3)(&mgr;-dppm)(2)Pt(H)]PF(6) and [MoCp(CO)(2)(&mgr;-PPh(2))(&mgr;-H)Pt(PPh(3))(MeCN)]PF(6) were prepared by chloride abstraction from the corresponding neutral bimetallic species and show electrochemical behavior similar to the analogous Ru/Pt complexes.
