LACK OF EFFECT OF AN ACUTE ILEAL PERFUSION OF SHORT-CHAIN FATTY-ACIDSON GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN HEALTHY-MEN

Dietary fiber intake is associated with several beneficial effects on carbohydrate metabolism. Some authors have speculated that this improv ement may be due to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by the col onic fermentation of dietary fibers. To test this hypothesis, six heal thy men aged 26 +/- 2 (SE) yr with a body mass index of 20.9 +/- 0.7 r eceived on three occasions an 18-h ileal perfusion infused at a flow r ate of 3.3 ml/min, containing either 90 mmol/l of SCFA (60% acetate, 2 5% propionate, and 15% butyrate) (A), SCFA during the first 12 h and t hen a saline solution (A/S), or a saline solution (S). Basal hepatic g lucose production (BHGP), insulin sensitivity (3-step euglycemic-hyper insulinic clamp), and erythrocyte insulin binding (EIB) were studied 1 2 h after the beginning of the ileal perfusion. There was no change in BHGP or insulin sensitivity. However, maximal EIB was significantly d ifferent: 7.1 +/- 0.1 (A), 6.8 +/- 0.1(A/S), vs. 6.5 +/- 0.1% (S) (P = 0.03). We conclude that acute administration of SCFA does not signifi cantly alter glucose metabolism in healthy subjects.