Colonic fermentation

Colonic fermentation is the microbial breakdown of undigested food substrates in the large intestine, producing short-chain fatty acids, gases, and other metabolites.

Resistant starch: Resistant starch is starch that escapes digestion in the small intestine and reaches the colon. It provides a fermentable carbohydrate substrate that can yield butyrate.
Gut microbiota: The gut microbiota is the community of microorganisms living in the digestive tract. Its members collectively perform the enzymatic breakdown humans cannot carry out.
FODMAP: FODMAPs are fermentable short-chain carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and can draw water into the gut. Their rapid colonic fermentation can contribute to gas and symptoms in sensitive people.
Colonocyte: A colonocyte is an epithelial cell lining the colon. Colonocytes use butyrate as a major energy source, linking fermentation to epithelial function.
Short-chain fatty acid: Short-chain fatty acids are fatty acids with fewer than six carbon atoms, including acetate, propionate, and butyrate. These principal fermentation products are absorbed and used by host tissues.
Large intestine: The large intestine is the digestive tract segment that absorbs water and electrolytes and houses dense microbial communities. Its contents and conditions provide the setting for colonic fermentation.
Irritable bowel syndrome: Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder of gut-brain interaction marked by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Fermentation-related gas, distension, and sensitivity can influence symptoms in some people.
Gut-brain axis: The gut-brain axis is the bidirectional signaling network connecting the gastrointestinal tract and the nervous system. Microbial metabolites can participate in signaling pathways studied within this network.
Butyrate: Butyrate is a four-carbon short-chain fatty acid produced largely by microbial fermentation in the colon. It is a major fuel for colon cells and a prominent product of fiber fermentation.
Prebiotic: A prebiotic is a substrate selectively used by host microorganisms in a way that confers a health benefit. Some prebiotics reach the colon and selectively support microbes that ferment them.

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