Lay Summary
Proposal No. IBD-0023
Principal Investigator: Douglas Morrison, Ph.D.
Applicant Organization: University of Glasgow (United Kingdom)
Project Title: Novel strategies for the colonic provision of butyric acid
Period of Award: June 1, 2003 - March 31, 2006
Carbohydrates and starches that are not broken down and absorbed in the small intestine reach the large intestine where they can be broken down and metabolized by bacteria that reside there. This process, known as fermentation, recovers energy that would normally be lost in the feces. In recent years, it has been recognized that fermentation is essential for the maintenance of a normal healthy colon. One of the products of bacterial breakdown and metabolism of carbohydrates is butyric acid. This relatively simple molecule has a variety of effects on the cells that line the colon. It provides energy for normal cells, resulting in growth, and has been shown to stop the growth of cancerous cells. It can also suppress some of the inflammatory mediators that promote IBD.
These observations have led to the proposal of using butyric acid as a treatment of IBD. It may have an advantage over other therapy because butyric acid is a natural product of the fiber we eat in our diet and therefore may provide a treatment that is natural and is free from side effects. Current strategies that are used to increase the amount of butyric acid in the colon are difficult to assess because there are no available methods to measure the amount of butyric acid produced. Therefore, ways of delivering butyric acid to the colon are necessary to test its potential as a therapeutic agent in colorectal disease. We have developed a carrier system for butyric acid. By using our expertise in stable (non-radioactive) isotope methods, we will measure how much labeled butyric acid is delivered to the large intestine by this system. This work will allow clinical trials to be conducted that will evaluate the potential of butyric acid as a therapy for inflammatory bowel disease.