A low-carb diet increases fecal short-chain fatty acids in feces of obese women following a weight-loss program: randomized feeding trial

Abstract

To compare fecal level of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and some serum inflammatory markers between the low-carbohydrate (LCD) and the habitual (HD) diet, subjects were enrolled from our previous study on the effect of LCD vs. HD on gut microbiota in obese women following an energy-restricted diet. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) significantly increased in the HD group (p < 0.001). Adjusted for the baseline parameters, fecal level of butyric, propionic, and acetic acid were significantly different between the LCD and HD groups (p < 0.001, p = 0.02, and p < 0.001, respectively). Increase in serum insulin level correlated with decrease in fecal propionic acid by 5.3-folds (95% CI = - 2.7, - 0.15, p = 0.04). Increase in serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) correlated with decrease in the percentage of fecal butyric acid by 25% (p = 0.04). Serum fasting blood sugar (FBS) and insulin showed a significant effect on fecal acetic acid (p = 0.009 and p = 0.01, respectively). Elevated serum FBS and insulin correlated with increase in fecal acetic acid by 2.8 and 8.9-folds (95%CI = 0.34, 1.9 and 1.2, 9.2), respectively. The LCD increased fecal SCFAs and a significant correlation was seen between serum IL-6 and fecal propionic acid level. More studies are needed to reach a concise correlation. Trial registration number: The trial was registered in Iranian ClinicalTrials.gov IRCT20200929048876N3.