Thj. Florin et Ia. Jabbar, A POSSIBLE ROLE FOR BILE-ACID IN THE CONTROL OF METHANOGENESIS AND THE ACCUMULATION OF HYDROGEN GAS IN THE HUMAN COLON, Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, 9(2), 1994, pp. 112-117
This study investigated a possible role for primary bile acid in the c
ontrol of methanogenesis in the human colon. Production of hydrogen an
d methane was measured in anaerobic faecal cultures derived from faece
s of six 'non-methanogenic' and three methanogenic healthy humans. Usi
ng a sensitive technique for gas measurement, methane was detected in
all faecal cultures, including those from 'non-methanogenic' humans. B
ile acid inhibited methanogenesis in a dose-response fashion in the in
vitro 'non-methanogenic' and methanogenic faecal cultures. Inhibition
was significant at bile acid concentrations > 0.05%. Methanogenesis c
orrelated with methanogen (methanogenic bacteria) numbers. If this inh
ibition occurs in vivo, then it would explain much of the epidemiology
of non-methanogenesis in humans. From an analysis of net hydrogen pro
duction by the faecal cultures, it is inferred that bile acid inhibits
other hydrogen-consuming bacteria in addition to methanogens. These i
n vitro data suggest a major role for bile acid in the accumulation of
hydrogen gas in the colon. Possible links between bile acid induced a
ccumulation of gas and irritable bowel syndrome are discussed.