Table 2 Faecal short-chain fatty acids in subjects with and without IBS with comparisons between the groups
From: Faecal short-chain fatty acids - a diagnostic biomarker for irritable bowel syndrome?
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) | IBS (no 25) | Control (no 25) | Statistics (p-values) |
|---|---|---|---|
The sum of SCFA (mmol/l) | 10.54 (9.14) | 8.36 (7.57) | ns (p = 0.36) |
Acetic acid (mmol/l) | 6.42 (6.29) | 4.81 (4.98) | ns (p = 0.32) |
Propionic acid (mmol/l) | 1.93 (1.43) | 1.34 (0.98) | ns (p = 0.10) |
Butyric acid (mmol/l) | 1.56 (1.25) | 1.67 (1.56) | ns (p = 0.80) |
Iso-Butyric acid (mmol/l) | 0.17 (0.10) | 0.15 (0.12) | ns (p = 0.52) |
Valeric acid (mmol/l) | 0.19 (0.13) | 0.17 (0.13) | ns (p = 0.42) |
Iso-Valeric acid (mmol/l) | 0.25 (0.13) | 0.22 (0.14) | ns (p = 0.34) |
Acetic acid (molar%) | 56.26 (7.56) | 55.48 (8.23) | ns (p = 0.73) |
Propionic acid (molar%) | 20.20 (4.95) | 17.85 (3.94) | ns (p = 0.07) |
Butyric acid (molar%) | 15.58 (2.75) | 19.00 (4.55) | p = 0.003 |
Iso-Butyric acid (molar%) | 2.21 (1.07) | 2.10 (1.42) | ns (p = 0.75) |
Valeric acid (molar%) | 2.25 (0.74) | 2.08 (1.00) | ns (p = 0.49) |
Iso-Valeric acid (molar%) | 3.50 (2.04) | 3.50 (1.98) | ns (p = 0.99) |
Propionic – Butyric acid (mmol/l) | 0.36 (0.34) | - 0.32 (0.69) | p < 0.001 |
Propionic – Butyric acid (molar%) | 4.61 (5.22) | - 1.15 (5.46) | p < 0.001 |
Propionic/Butyric mmol/l ratio (%) | 132 % (37 %) | 98 % (27 %) | p < 0.001 |