The effects of high-fat foods on gut microbiota and small molecule intestinal gases: release kinetics and distribution in vitro colon model

Zhi-Tao Li; Jia-Wei Wang; Xing-Hai Hu; Li Zhu; Yun Jiang; Min-Jie Gao; Xiao-Bei Zhan

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10911

The effects of high-fat foods on gut microbiota and small molecule intestinal gases: release kinetics and distribution in vitro colon model

Heliyon. 2022 Oct 3;8(10):e10911. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10911. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Authors

Zhi-Tao Li^{1

2

3}, Jia-Wei Wang¹, Xing-Hai Hu¹, Li Zhu¹, Yun Jiang¹, Min-Jie Gao¹, Xiao-Bei Zhan¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China.
³ School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China.

Abstract

Profiling intestinal gases and their responses to dietary changes can reveal the products and functions of the gut microbiota and their influence on human health. High-fat foods (HFF) can alter the gut microbiota and its metabolites, posing a potential health risk. However, little is known about the effects of HFF on intestinal gas distribution. Therefore, in this study, we used human fecal microorganisms as strains, an in vitro three-chamber colon model and an intestinal gas array sensor as tools. We performed in vitro fermentation using HFF as the fermentation substrate to reveal the effects of HFF on the kinetics of intestinal gas production and changes in the gut microbiota and its metabolites. We found that dietary fatty acids stimulated the production of H2S and volatile organic compounds in the colon, promoted Firmicutes abundance, and decreased Bacteroidetes abundance. These results highlight the potential role of HFF in altering the gut microbiota and intestinal gas, which can lead to health hazards.

Keywords: Dietary fats; Gastrointestinal diseases; Hydrogen sulfide; In vitro; Intestinal gases; Volatile organic compound.