Abstract
Short chain fatty acid (SCFAs) are bacterially derived metabolites suggested to have protective roles against colorectal cancer (CRC) development. However, there is sparse evidence from epidemiological studies in this context. Here, we assessed whether circulating SCFA concentrations varied in patients with colorectal adenomas (CRA) and CRC. Levels of seven SCFAs were extracted from plasma samples and determined by gas chromatography for 213 individuals from Ireland and the Czech Republic (CRC, n=84; CRA, n=66; controls, n=63). In the Irish CRA/CRC cohort, only levels of 2-MethylButyric acid were significantly higher in cancers compared to the adenoma and control groups (p-values=0.016 and 0.043). Using regression analysis, we observed that levels of Acetic and Propionic acid were associated with an increased CRC risk in the Czech cohort (Odd Ratio (OR): 1.02; 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.03; OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.05-1.59, respectively), while i-Valeric and Valeric acid levels were associated with a decreased cancer risk (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86-0.99; OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.44-1.00). In the Irish cohort, levels of SCFAs were not associated with CRC risk. The association with colorectal neoplasia varied between the studied SCFAs. Future studies need to confirm these findings and address the mechanism of how these acids may promote or prevent colorectal carcinogenesis.
Highlights
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer related death and the third most commonly diagnosed in the world with 1.8 million new cases in 2018 [1]
Due to the small number of CRC cases analysed in the Irish cohort, we further explored the association between SCFA levels and colorectal neoplasia risk by grouping the neoplasia cases (CRC, colorectal adenomas (CRA) and HGD)
Except for 2Methylbutyric acid level in the Irish cohort, no statistically significant difference was observed in the concentration of other SCFAs between control and pre-cancerous lesion (HGD, TV/TVA) groups
Summary
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer related death and the third most commonly diagnosed in the world with 1.8 million new cases in 2018 [1]. Mullee et al. Short chain fatty acid (SCFAs) are bacterially derived metabolites suggested to have protective roles against colorectal cancer (CRC) development. We assessed whether circulating SCFA concentrations varied in patients with colorectal adenomas (CRA) and CRC. Methods: Levels of seven SCFAs were extracted from plasma samples and determined by gas chromatography for 213 individuals from Ireland and the Czech Republic (CRC, n 1⁄4 84; CRA, n 1⁄4 66; controls, n 1⁄4 63). Results: In the Irish CRA/CRC cohort, only levels of 2-MethylButyric acid were significantly higher in cancers compared to the adenoma and control groups (p-values 1⁄4 0.016 and 0.043). In the Irish cohort, levels of SCFAs were not associated with CRC risk.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
