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Colonic methanogenesis in vivo and in vitro and fecal pH after resection of colorectal cancer and in healthy intact colon

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Abstract

Purpose

We compared colonic methanogenesis in vivo and in vitro as well as fecal pH in healthy subjects and in patients with resected colorectal cancer thus without the possible confounding effects of the tumor.

Methods

A total of 144 subjects, 96 with resected colorectal cancer (of whom, 48 were with metastatic disease), 48 healthy subjects with intact colon, were analyzed for breath methane, fecal methanogenesis in vitro and fecal pH. In addition, the association between methanogenesis and pH with cancer site, operation technique and abdominal discomfort was investigated.

Results

In vivo and in vitro methane measurements were in agreement. The percentage of breath methane excretors and fecal pH did not significantly differ in participants resected for colorectal cancer, either with (46%, 6.76) or without (46%, 6.77) metastatic disease, from healthy participants (40%, 6.80). Breath methane excretors had higher fecal pH than nonexcretors (7.05 versus 6.57, P < 0.001) and less abdominal discomfort (30% versus 54%, P = 0.016). Among patients with resected right-sided cancer (n = 15), there were less breath methane excretors (20%) than among those with resected left-sided cancer (51%, n = 81, P = 0.029) as well as lower fecal pH than among those with resected left-sided cancer (6.27 versus 6.86, P = 0.002) and among healthy subjects (6.80, P = 0.010).

Conclusions

Patients with resected colorectal cancer were as frequently methane producers as healthy subjects with intact colon, and there was no difference in their fecal pH. Low methanogenesis was found in patients with abdominal discomfort and is a possible characteristic, along with low fecal pH, to right-sided colorectal cancer.

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Acknowledgements

We thank T. Poussa for helping with the statistics. This study was funded by Valio Ltd., Helsinki, Finland. There is no potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Reetta Holma & Riitta Korpela

  2. Navidia Ltd., Kalliolinnantie 7, FIN-00140, Helsinki, Finland

    Reetta Holma

  3. Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, P.O. Box 180, FIN-00029, HUS, Helsinki, Finland

    Pia Osterlund

  4. Orion Corporation, Orion Pharma, P.O. Box 1780, FIN-70701, Kuopio, Finland

    Ulla Sairanen

  5. National Institute for Health and Welfare, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300, Helsinki, Finland

    Mikko Blom

  6. Division of Clinical Microbiology, HUSLAB, Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, P.O. Box 400, FIN-00029, HUS, Helsinki, Finland

    Merja Rautio

  7. Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Reetta Holma

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  1. Reetta Holma
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Correspondence to Reetta Holma.

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Holma, R., Osterlund, P., Sairanen, U. et al. Colonic methanogenesis in vivo and in vitro and fecal pH after resection of colorectal cancer and in healthy intact colon. Int J Colorectal Dis 27, 171–178 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-011-1323-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-011-1323-4

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