Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Determination of Tolerable Fatty Acids and Cholera Toxin Concentrations Using Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells and BALB/c Mouse Macrophages
Published on: May 30, 2013
Short-chain fatty acids in ulcerative colitis
1Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada.
Abstract:
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), a by-product of anaerobic fermentation of undigested carbohydrates within the colon, are an important energy source for colonic epithelial cells. It has been proposed that ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory condition of the colon, may result from a metabolic defect in SCFA oxidation in the colon and that this defect may be corrected by supraphysiologic luminal levels of SCFA in the colon. Clinical trials published to date suggest that topical SCFA provide an effective primary and/or adjunctive treatment in patients with mild to moderate distal ulcerative colitis at substantial cost savings and without significant side effects.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations

