265 SCFA (short chain fatty acids) profile in children with coeliac disease

Abstract

<h3></h3> The intestinal microbiota ferments complex carbohydrates that have not been broken down or absorbed during digestion into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). SCFA are involved in different metabolic processes and the functioning of the immune system. Recent studies have shown changes in the SCFA profile in people with celiac disease (CD). Here we compared the composition of SCFA in the faecal water of the paediatric population with CD and the healthy children (HC). Faecal samples were obtained from 5 individuals with CD (2 female, 3 male) on a gluten-free diet (GFD) and 5 HC (3 female, 2 male) aged 13-18 years. To determine the SCFA concentrations sterile filtered fecal water was prepared. The SCFA profile was determined by gas chromatography. We compared the average SCFA concentrations between groups with CD and HC, for which we used the Student’s t-test. We also calculated the total SCFA and the fermentation index FI= (acetic acid – (propionic acid + butyric acid))/(the sum of SCFA). The comparison of concentrations of individual SCFA fractions showed a statistically significantly lower value of acetic acid (p = 0.04) and a statistically marginal increase in caproic acid concentration (p = 0.089) in the CD group. The averages of other SCFA were higher in healthy individuals but without statistical significance. Total SCFA was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.047) in HC. Fermentation index was 0.092 in HC and 0.079 in CD patients. The literature regarding the profile of SCFA in the paediatric population CD is scarce. Our results differ from the current literature, which reports a significant increase of acetic acid, total SCFA, and fermentation index in the paediatric population with CD compared to the control group. An increase in caproic acid in CD has not been reported yet. Recent studies have suggested that the study groups’ age difference or the amount of gluten in the diet could explain the discrepancies in our results.