Effects of dietary fiber on inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

The chronic idiopathic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), namely Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, appear to be derived from an inappropriate reaction towards a luminal agent, most probably driven by the intestinal microflora, which upregulates the synthesis and release of different pro-inflammatory mediators, thus contributing to tissue damage that characterizes these intestinal conditions. Several studies have reported that IBD is associated with impairment in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, mainly acetate, propionate, and butyrate. They are produced in the large bowel by anaerobic bacterial fermentation of undigested dietary carbohydrates and fiber polysaccharides, with butyrate being considered as the major fuel source for colonocytes. These SCFAs have been proposed to play a key role in the maintenance of colonic homeostasis. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider therapeutic approaches that increase colonic SCFA production, as it can be achieved by administration of dietary fiber to IBD patients. Unfortunately, there is quite limited documentation of efficacy of dietary fiber in properly designed trials. This review discusses the rationale, available evidence for the use of dietary fiber and its mechanisms of action in the treatment and prevention of IBDs.

Molecular-phylogenetic characterization of microbial community imbalances in human inflammatory bowel diseases

“…Several of the OTUs underrepresented in the IBD-subset are most closely related to cultured isolates of butyrate-producing bacteria (Table 1 and SI Table 5). Butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids, which are produced primarily by bacterial metabolism, are important sources of energy for colonic epithelial cells and may enhance epithelial barrier integrity and modulate the GI immune response (53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58). Loss of similar organisms has been correlated with antibiotic-associated diarrhea in a patient (59).…”

The Vitro Fermentation of Six Functional Oligosaccharides by Clostridium butyricum TK2 and Clostridium butyricum CB8

“…In particular butyrate is the prime energy substrates for the colonic mucosa and has an effect on immune function (Roediger, 1980;Fleming and Floch, 1986;Wong et al, 2006;McOrist et al, 2008;Serpa et al, 2010). Furthermore, in vitro studies as well as animal studies indicate that butyrate may reduce risk factors of gut inflammation (Roediger, 1990;Cummings and Englyst, 1991;Segain et al, 2000;Galvez et al, 2005). It also has been observed to reverse the resistance of colorectal cancer cells to apoptosis (Caderni et al, 1998;Leng et al, 2001;Brouns et al, 2002;Hinnebusch et al, 2002;Blottiere et al, 2003;Kien et al, 2006;McOrist et al, 2008;Serpa et al, 2010).…”

Dietary supplementation with β-glucan enriched oat bran increases faecal concentration of carboxylic acids in healthy subjects

“…Especially butyric acid has been suggested to play a role in the prevention and treatment of colonic diseases, such as ulcerative colitis (Cummings, 1997) and colon cancer (Scheppach et al, 1995), and to some extent Crohn's disease (Di Sabatino et al, 2005). Current knowledge is summarized in recent reviews (Galvez et al, 2005;Wong et al, 2006). Different types of indigestible carbohydrates give rise to different amounts and patterns of CAs during colonic fermentation, and it may therefore be possible to regulate the CA formation by diet.…”