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Colonic fermentation – more than meets the nose

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Arasaradnam, Ramesh P., Pharaoh, Mark W., Williams, Geraint J., Nwokolo, Chuka U., Bardhan, Karna Dev and Kumar, Sudhesh. (2009) Colonic fermentation – more than meets the nose. Medical Hypotheses, Vol.73 (No.5). pp. 753-756. ISSN 0306-9877

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2009.04.027

Abstract

Fermentation of undigested foods in the colon by its resident bacteria affects not only colonic health (protection against inflammation and tumour formation) but also influences metabolic health. Studying fermentation directly is difficult for lack of access. We hypothesise that the anatomical structure of the colon is suited to act as a fermenting chamber with the gaseous molecules (VOCs) emitted having direct effects on the colonocytes as well as gut neural and metabolic effects. We refer to this complex system as the ‘fermentome’, and further hypothesise that alteration in the ‘fermentome’ through dietary modification will have a direct impact on colonic as well as metabolic health and disease. The VOCs emitted may play a role in bacterial chemical signalling within the colon but importantly could also function as a ‘gas’ biomarker. Measurement of such VOCs through non-invasive methods would have important application as a hypothesis-generating tool with subsequent clinical application.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QP Physiology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Clinical Sciences Research Institute (CSRI) Faculty of Science > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group) Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Fermentation -- Research, Enterobacteriaceae -- Research, Volatile organic compounds -- Research, Biological control systems
Journal or Publication Title:	Medical Hypotheses
Publisher:	Churchill Livingstone
ISSN:	0306-9877
Date:	November 2009
Volume:	Vol.73
Number:	No.5
Number of Pages:	4
Page Range:	pp. 753-756
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.mehy.2009.04.027
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3082