COLONIC FERMENTATION - METABOLIC AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Colonic SCFA formation from fermentable carbohydrate is important for the maintenance of morphologic and functional integrity of the colonic epithelium. Carbohydrate-induced diarrhea occurs when the amount of c arbohydrate entering the colon exceeds its fermentation capacity. Defi cient availability or utilization of SCFA, mainly of n-butyrate, is th e cause of diversion colitis and may play important roles in colonic c arcinogenesis, in starvation and enterotoxigenic diarrhea, and in idio pathic UC.