Physiological implications of microbial digestion in the large intestine of mammals: relation to dietary factors.
Abstract: The rate of digesta marker passage through the large intestine of the dog, pig, and pony correlated with the relative length and degree of sacculation of the colon. Volatile fatty acids (VFA), the end products of microbial digestion of all forms of carbohydrate, were the major anions present in large intestinal contents of all three species. Total VFA concentration was little affected by the feeding of high-versus low-fiber diets. VFA were rapidly transported across colonic mucosa of all three species. Results of comparative studies indicate that production and absorption of VFA are important to the nutrition of some mammals and to the normal secretory and absorptive functions of the large intestine of most mammals.
Publication Date: 1978-10-01 PubMed ID: 707368DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/31.10.S161Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research analyzes how microbial digestion in the large intestine of mammals (specifically dogs, pigs, and ponies) correlates with dietary factors and how this affects the overall nutrition and intestinal health of these animals.
Objective Analysis
The researchers focused on studying the rate of food digesta marker passage through the large intestines of dogs, pigs, and ponies. They found significant correlations with the relative length and degree of sacculation (pouching) of the colon.
- The relative length and degree of sacculation of the colon in these animals played an important role in the rate of digesta passage.
Volatile Fatty Acid Production and Absorption
The study found Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) as the major end products of microbial digestion of all kinds of carbohydrates. These VFAs were the major anions present in the large intestinal contents of these animals.
- Total VFA concentration remained relatively the same irrespective of the animals feeding on high- or low-fiber diets. This indicates that the type of diet did not significantly affect the overall production of VFA in the large intestine.
- The researchers observed a rapid transport of VFAs across the colonic mucosa in all three animal species. This implies that the absorption process of VFAs in the colon is efficient.
Comparative Analysis and Implications
The study conducted comparative analyses and results indicate the following.
- Production and absorption of VFAs are crucial to the nutrition of some mammals. This confirms the general assumption that VFAs, as microbial fermentation products, contribute significantly to the energy needs of some mammalian species.
- Production and absorption of VFAs also play a fundamental role in the normal secretory and absorptive functions of the large intestine in most mammalian species. This reveals the critical role of microbial fermentation and VFA production in maintaining the normal physiological functions of the large intestines, beyond just nutrient absorption.
Cite This Article
APA
Stevens CE.
(1978).
Physiological implications of microbial digestion in the large intestine of mammals: relation to dietary factors.
Am J Clin Nutr, 31(10 Suppl), S161-S168.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/31.10.S161 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cellulose
- Dietary Fiber
- Dietary Proteins
- Digestion
- Dogs
- Fatty Acids, Volatile / metabolism
- Gastrointestinal Motility
- Intestinal Absorption
- Intestinal Secretions
- Intestine, Large / microbiology
- Swine
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Rose EC, Blikslager AT, Ziegler AL. Porcine Models of the Intestinal Microbiota: The Translational Key to Understanding How Gut Commensals Contribute to Gastrointestinal Disease. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:834598.
- Chuluunbaatar T, Ichii O, Nakamura T, Irie T, Namba T, Islam MR, Otani Y, Masum MA, Okamatsu-Ogura Y, Elewa YHA, Kon Y. Unique Running Pattern and Mucosal Morphology Found in the Colon of Cotton Rats. Front Physiol 2020;11:587214.
- Roediger WE. Role of anaerobic bacteria in the metabolic welfare of the colonic mucosa in man. Gut 1980 Sep;21(9):793-8.
- Reddy BS. Dietary fibre and colon cancer: epidemiologic and experimental evidence. Can Med Assoc J 1980 Nov 8;123(9):850-6.
- Shaopeng C, Changze C, Youpeng Q, Baohong M, Meixian Z, Chenyue J, Chune Z, Xiangyan W, Jiang H, Bingang S, Xueming M, Zhidong Z, Xiaolan Z. Studies on fatty acids and microbiota characterization of the gastrointestinal tract of Tianzhu white yaks. Front Microbiol 2024;15:1508468.
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