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Reduced fecal short-chain fatty acids in hispanic children with ulcerative colitis
Sarah Rotondo-Trivette1, Beibei Wang2,3, Yihui Luan3
1Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Insights
Hispanic children with ulcerative colitis (UC) have significantly lower fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) than non-Hispanic children, irrespective of fiber intake. This finding may inform SCFA-targeted therapies for UC.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiome research
- Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease
Background:
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is linked to reduced fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
- Hispanic populations exhibit higher UC incidence and earlier onset.
- The role of SCFAs in UC disparities among Hispanic children is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare fecal SCFA concentrations and fiber intake in Hispanic versus non-Hispanic children with UC.
- To investigate potential factors contributing to UC differences in Hispanic pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
- Stool sample collection from 22 Hispanic and 31 non-Hispanic children with UC.
- Quantification of SCFAs via mass spectrometry and dietary assessment using food frequency questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Hispanic children with UC showed significantly lower concentrations of acetic acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, and propionic acid compared to non-Hispanic children (p < 0.001).
- Butyric acid exhibited the most substantial reduction (p = 1.6e-7).
- No significant difference in fiber intake was observed between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to report significantly reduced fecal SCFAs in Hispanic children with UC, independent of disease activity and fiber intake.
- Reduced SCFAs may be associated with colonic disease in Hispanic UC patients.
- Findings support exploring SCFA-targeted therapies for UC, particularly in at-risk populations.
Background:
It is known that patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have reduced numbers of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing bacteria and reduced SCFA concentration in feces. There is also evidence that Hispanic patients have increased incidence of UC and increased likelihood of developing disease at a younger age. To understand why this might be, we compared fiber intake and fecal SCFA concentrations in Hispanic children with UC and non-Hispanic children with UC.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study conducted at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, stool was collected from 22 Hispanic and 31 non-Hispanic children with UC. SCFAs in the stool were quantified using mass spectrometry. Diet information was collected at the time of stool collection using food frequency questionnaires.
Results:
Acetic acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, and propionic acid concentrations are significantly lower in Hispanic children with UC compared to age, gender, and disease activity matched non-Hispanic children with UC (p < 0.001). Butyric acid showed the most significant decrease (p = 1.6e-7) There was no significant difference in fiber intake between Hispanic and non-Hispanic children with UC.
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first study to find that Hispanic children with UC had further reduced SCFAs, independent of disease activity and fiber intake. It is possible that the reduction in SCFAs is related to the colonic disease in Hispanic patients with UC. This may provide more evidence to support the use of SCFA targeted therapies for UC.
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