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Short Chain Fatty Acids Analysis Service

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are a sub-group of saturated aliphatic fatty acids contain 2-5 carbon (C) atoms, while acetate (C2), propionate (C3), and butyrate (C4) are the most abundant. They are the end products of fermentation of the dietary fibers by beneficial large intestinal bacteria. Humans don’t have the enzymes to degrade the bulk of dietary fibers. As a result, these nondigestible dietary fibers pass through the upper gastrointestinal tract without being digested and then enter the cecum and the large intestine and are fermented by the anaerobic cecal and colonic microbiota. The fermentation of dietary fibers produces a large number of metabolites including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

Short Chain Fatty Acids Analysis Service

To the microbial community, SCFAs are end products of no use, however, they are required to maintain the balance of redox equivalent production of the gut in the anaerobic environment. In the colon and stool, the molar ratio of acetate, propionate, and butyrate is about 60:20:20. The total concentration of SCFAs in the proximal colon ranges from 70mM to 140 mM, depending on the diet. In the distal colon, the concentration is lower, about 20mM to 70 mM. 95% of the produced SCFAs in the cecum and large intestine are rapidly absorbed by the colonocytes with the remaining 5% being secreted in the feces.

In the last few decades, it is shown that SCFAs play an important role in the prevention and treatment of a series of metabolic syndrome such as bowel disorders and some cancer. In some clinical studies, the administration of SCFAs can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of some immunological intestinal disorders like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea, though the mechanism remains to be determined. It is indicated that SCFAs potently benefit mammalian energy metabolism, with the underlying mechanisms of intensive research interest. The excessive energy intake and lack of physical exercise result in a series of metabolic syndrome such as hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia and loss of glycemic control. It is shown in epidemiological studies that higher dietary fibers intake will benefit body weight, food intake and glucose homeostasis and reduce the risk of metabolic disorders such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer. That’s because dietary fibers are fermented by gut bacteria in the cecum and large intestine and produce SCFAs, which are beneficial.

The amount and type of dietary fibers in the diet has significant effects on the composition of the intestinal bacteria and thereby on the type and amount of SCFAs generated. Mostly, the in vivo SCFAs production rates on different fibers are related to the intestinal SCFAs concentrations on different fibers diet. Though the cecal SCFAs concentration is available in most model organisms, it is hard to get information about in vivo production rates. In contrast, it is almost impossible to measure the cecal SCFAs concentration in humans’ intestines. So, most of the time the cecal and colonic metabolism are evaluated by measuring SCFAs concentration in fecal content or by in vitro studies. Creative Proteomics has established sensitive, reliable, and accurate GC-MS method for quantification of short chain fatty acids.

Platform

  • GC-MS

Summary

  • Identification and quantification of short chain fatty acids by GC-MS.

Sample Requirement

  • Normal Volume: 100ul plasma; 50mg tissue; 50mg feces (human); 20mg feces (rodent)
  • Minimal Volume: 50ul plasma; 30mg tissue; 40mg feces (human); 20mg feces (rodent)

Report

  • A detailed technical report will be provided at the end of the whole project, including the experiment procedure, GC-MS instrument parameters
  • Analytes are reported as uM or ug/mg (tissue), and CV's are generally<10%
  • The name of the analytes, abbreviation, formula, molecular weight and CAS# would also be included in the report.
Short Chain Fatty Acids Quantified in This Service
Acetic acid (C2:0)Butyric acid (C4:0)Caproic acid (Hexanoic) (C6:0)
Isobutyric acid (C4:0i)Isovaleric acid (C5:0i)Propionic acid (C3:0)
Valeric acid (C5:0)

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With integrated set of separation, characterization, identification and quantification systems featured with excellent robustness & reproducibility, high and ultra-sensitivity, Creative Proteomics provides reliable, rapid and cost-effective short chain fatty acids targeted metabolomics services.

* For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
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