FECAL SHORT-CHAIN FATTY-ACIDS IN SOUTH-AFRICAN URBAN AFRICANS AND WHITES

Diminished levels for fecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been linked to occurrence of ulcerative colitis, colerectal polyps, and col on cancer, diseases that are rare or uncommon in African populations. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine fecal SCFA concentrati ons and fecal pH values in groups of black South Africans (African) an d white South Africans (white) subjects. METHODS: Twenty healthy Afric ans (all women; mean age, 35 years) and 17 healthy whites (7 women; 10 men; mean age, 32 years) were tested. RESULTS: Mean total concentrati ons of SCFAs in the two groups were 142.1 (+/-53.9) and 69.2 (+/-26.0) mmol/kg wet feces, respectively (P = 0.0001). Mean values for African s were significantly higher in all subfractions except butyrate. There was a significant inverse correlation between fecal pH value and tota l fecal SCFA concentration (r = 0.704; P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: High co ncentrations of fecal SCFAs in the African group could protect against chronic bowel diseases.