AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 271, Issue 1 E199-E204, Copyright © 1996 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Lack of effect of an acute ileal perfusion of short-chain fatty acids on glucose metabolism in healthy men

C. Alamowitch, J. Boillot, A. Boussairi, A. Ruskone-Fourmestraux, A. Chevalier, S. W. Rizkalla, F. Guyon, F. R. Bornet and G. Slama
Laboratoire de Diabetologie, Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale U 341, Paris, France.

Dietary fiber intake is associated with several beneficial effects on carbohydrate metabolism. Some authors have speculated that this improvement may be due to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by the colonic fermentation of dietary fibers. To test this hypothesis, six healthy men aged 26 +/- 2 (SE) yr with a body mass index of 20.9 +/- 0.7 received on three occasions an 18-h ileal perfusion infused at a flow rate of 3.3 ml/min, containing either 90 mmol/l of SCFA (60% acetate, 25% propionate, and 15% butyrate) (A), SCFA during the first 12 h and then a saline solution (A/S), or a saline solution (S). Basal hepatic glucose production (BHGP), insulin sensitivity (3-step euglycemic-hyperinsulinic clamp), and erythrocyte insulin binding (EIB) were studied 12 h after the beginning of the ileal perfusion. There was no change in BHGP or insulin sensitivity. However, maximal EIB was significantly different: 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 significantly alter glucose metabolism in healthy subjects.

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