A Comparative Study on Faecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids Concentration in Lean, Overweight and Obese School Children

The relationship between body weight and faecal short-chain acids (SCFAs) concentration may be interrelated and contribute to the development of childhood obesity and other metabolic diseases. This study aims to compare the faecal SCFAs concentration produced in lean, overweight and obese children aged 7 to 10 years old. Malay ethnic, healthy, lean, overweight and obese, age 7 to 10 years old from the selected primary school participated in this study.We assessed the socio-demographic and nutritional status of lean, overweight and obese children. A faecal sample was collected and analysed for faecal SCFAs concentration (acetic acid, butyric acid and propionic acid) by using the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. A total of 42 overweight and obese children (n=22) and lean children (n=20) with mean age = 8.73 ± 1.03 years old; BMI = 33.51± 20.82 kg/m2; 50 % boys participated in the study. Intake of macronutrients was distributed evenly, but a substantial number of the participants did not achieve the RNI for energy and Malaysian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents (MDG) for carbohydrates and fibre intake. There was no significant difference between the group on dietary intakes (p>0.05). The fecal SCFAs concentration of propionic acid (Mean=43.08 µmol/g; SD= 37.14) was the highest and followed by acetic acid (Mean= 29.73 µmol/g; SD= 23.30) and butyric acid (Mean= 23.19 µmol/g; SD= 17.75) with the overweight and obese children reported a higher concentration of butyrate (52%) and propionate (38%) as compared to lean children (p>0.05). This data on faecal SCFAs concentration of overweight and obese among Malay school children had revealed the total faecal SCFAs being produced was 106.60 ± 63.83 µmol/g which is 34% higher than lean children. Despite the difference in trend found in faecal SCFAs concentration between lean, overweight and obese school children, this study had found the insignificant. Therefore, the underlying mechanisms that increased concentration of SCFAs concentration warrants in overweight and obese children future investigation in combating childhood obesity.