Premium
A possible role for bile acid in the control of methanogenesis and the accumulation of hydrogen gas in the human colon
Author(s) -
FLORIN TIMOTHY H. J.,
JABBAR IBTISSAM A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1994.tb01228.x
Subject(s) - methanogenesis , medicine , bile acid , hydrogen , gastroenterology , methane , ecology , organic chemistry , biology , chemistry
This study investigated a possible role for primary bile acid in the control of methanogenesis in the human colon. Production of hydrogen and methane was measured in anaerobic faecal cultures derived from faeces of six ‘non‐methanogenic’ and three methanogenic healthy humans. Using a sensitive technique for gas measurement, methane was detected in all faecal cultures, including those from ‘non‐methanogenic’ humans. Bile 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 correlated with methanogen (methanogenic bacteria) numbers. If this inhibition occurs in vivo , then it would explain much of the epidemiology of non‐methanogenesis in humans. From an analysis of net hydrogen production by the faecal cultures, it is inferred that bile acid inhibits other hydrogen‐consuming bacteria in addition to methanogens. These in vitro data suggest a major role for bile acid in the accumulation of hydrogen gas in the colon. Possible links between bile acid induced accumulation of gas and irritable bowel syndrome are discussed.