Altered profile of gut microbiota and the level short chain fatty acids in colorectal cancer patients

The gut microbiota plays as a real organism and alterations in its composition have been found in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to investigate the relationship between the microbiota structure and the level of SCFA in CRC subjects compared to non-CRC subjects. This case-control study included fourteen subjects with CRC compared to fourteen non-CRC subjects. Their stool samples were analyzed for SCFA [acetate, propionate and butyrate acids] using gas chromatography and an exploration of the diversity of the bacteria using 16S rRNA gene denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis [DDGE]. PCR-DGGE analysis from CRC subjects indicated that there were decreasing numbers of Bifidobacterium found in the stool of CRC subjects compared to non-CRC subjects. The concentrations of acetate, propionate and butyrate acids had significantly lower with mean 8.55 μg/mL, propionate 5,61 μg/mL and butyrate acids 3,79 μg/mL respectively. Among these three SCFA, the level of propionate and butyrate acids were statistically significant [p <0,05]. In conclusion, dominant band from Bifidobacterium groups vanished in all subjects with colorectal cancer and we found different spectrums of Bifidobacterium in CRC subjects compared to non-CRC subjects. SCFA concentrations also appeared to be lower in CRC patients.