Table 2

Short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations (μmol/ml) of breast fed infants, formula fed infants, and adults after in vitro incubations of faecal bacterial cultures containing simple and complex carbohydrates as substrates

SCFA concentration (μmol/ml)
Breast fed infants (n=11)Formula fed infants (n=11)Adults (n=6)
MedianRangeMedianRangeMedianRange
Total SCFA
 Blank18.12-153 5.6–28.010.22-150 0.9–19.125.414.1–60.6
 Glucose55.6† 0.0–77.648.62-150 8.0–100.987.466.4–107.9
 Lactose44.60.0–63.040.921.9–78.7NDND
 Raftilose33.7† 5.9–48.942.72-150 10.1–125.974.449.0–123.1
 Soybean polysaccharide12.6† 8.1–40.214.1† 0.0–69.464.235.1–119.1
Acetic acid
 Blank13.12-153 3.6–19.26.70–12.39.85.2–15.3
 Glucose62.50.6–79.227.13.6–72.156.642.7–75.0
 Lactose46.70–67.930.16.9–79.2NDND
 Raftilose30.42-150 8.1–42.930.42-150 4.6–75.839.133.3–95.6
 Soybean polysaccharide9.6† 6.0–36.57.72-150 0–38.834.314.8–72.7
Propionic acid
 Blank3.72-153 1.7–8.02.22-150 0.7–5.44.22.0–14.9
 Glucose0‡ ∥ 0–6.09.51.4–36.216.17.7–18.8
 Lactose0∥ 0–7.011.11.4–17.6NDND
 Raftilose1† 0–8.46.91.4–37.912.43.7–19.3
 Soybean polysaccharide2.9† 1.5–5.64.6† 0–19.615.18.6–19.1
Butyric acid
 Blank0.18† 0–5.10.6† 0–1.42.61.4–4.5
 Glucose0† 2-153 0–13.90.42-150 0–10.86.51.1–32.4
 Lactose00–2.70.60–6.8NDND
 Raftilose02-150 2-153 0–11.44.00–28.911.21.6–28.8
 Soybean polysaccharide0.3† 0–5.80.62-150 0–6.56.03.5–20.8
Lactic acid
 Blank02-150 0–2.600–00.70–11.6
 Glucose25.410.0–478.60–58.925.10–45.3
 Lactose30.310.8–56.4210–82.2NDND
 Raftilose5.90–27.43.40–158.517.60–35.7
 Soybean polysaccharide00–3.200–0.62.00–16.9

  • ↵2-150 p < 0.05; † p < 0.01; ‡ p < 0.001 vadults.

  • ↵2-153 p < 0.05; p < 0.01; ∥ p < 0.001 v formula fed infants.

  • ND = not done.