Children with cystic fibrosis have an early-life disparity in fecal short chain fatty acid concentrations.

BACKGROUND

The depletion of short chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing bacterial species in cystic fibrosis (CF) is hypothesized to reduce overall SCFA production, contributing to the onset and persistence of gastrointestinal inflammation.

METHODS

In a prospective longitudinal observational study, we compared children with CFto age-matched healthy controls (HC). Participants completed a validated food frequency questionnaire and provided fecal samples for SCFA analysis (targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)), fecal calprotectin, and microbial community composition (16S rRNA gene sequencing).

RESULTS

64 children with CF (cwCF) [median age (IQR) = 8.4 (4-11.9)] and 64 HC [median age (IQR) = 7.8 (3.4-13.4)] were recruited. Valerate and isobutyrate were significantly reduced and more variable over time in cwCF compared to HC. Age-associated increases in butyrate, valerate, isobutyrate and isovalerate observed in HC, were absent in CF. In CF, butyrate was positively correlated with alpha diversity (Richness = 0.3, p = 0.0005; Shannon diversity = 0.3, p = 0.0005) and inversely correlated with elevated calprotectin concentrations (-0.34, p = 0.01). CwCF had higher relative intake of fats, predominated by trans and saturated fats, alongside reduced relative intake of fibre, wholegrains and resistant starch.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that reduced microbial diversity, depletion of key SCFA-producing taxa, and limited dietary fibre intake may promote alternative, less efficient pathways of butyrate synthesis in cwCF. When butyrate is reduced, heightened inflammation is more likely. Further investigation into the physiological roles of valerate and isobutyrate is needed to understand the implications of their depletion in CF.