Journal of Food: Microbiologia, Segurança e Higiene
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Fecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids: Associated with Gut Inflammation among Children of under Five at Hawassa, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia

Berhanu Kibemo Lefebo, Dejene Hailu Kassa, Baye Gelaw Tarekegn

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in children is becoming more prevalent globally. According to epidemiology studies, it affects many children who live in poor sanitation and unhygienic environments. According to earlier research done on an animal model and in the human population, SCFAs have been linked to gut inflammation biomarkers. However, studies on the association of gut inflammation with SCFAs were scarce in Ethiopia. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between fecal SCFAs and gut inflammation in Hawassa City, Sidama Region, Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed, and 82 children were included. A simple random sampling technique was used to select children from the source population. Independent samples-t-test, factorial ANOVA, and linear multiple regression were used to analyze data. The mean (± SD) of total SCFAs was 1.57 (± 0.16) μmoles/g stool sample. Gut inflammation was strongly and negatively correlated with total fecal SCFAs (r=-0.58, p<0.05). However, there was a moderate and positive correlation (r=0.38, p<0.05) between pH status and gut inflammation. Antibiotic exposure in the three months prior to the data collection was significantly associated with both the total and the individual SCFAs. Children who were exposed to any antibiotic in the three months prior to the data collection had significantly lower SCFAs concentration (1.51 ± 0.11, p=0.021) than their counterparts. Similarly, antibiotics-exposed children had significantly lower acetic acid (1.3 ± 0.12, p=0.032), butyric acid (0.79 ± 0.13, p=0.027), and propionic acid (0.86 ± 0.10, p=0.023) than their counterpart. Antibiotic exposure in the past three months prior to the data collection had a significant impact (F (1,75)=4.2, p=0.034) on the total SCFAs. About 9.3% variation in the total SCFAs was explained by antibiotic exposure. Likewise, a diet had a statistically significant effect (F (1,75)=3.6, p=0.041) on the total SCFAs. Diet explained about 8.6% of the total variation in the total SCFAs. Inflammation in the gut was substantially correlated with fecal SCFAs. Low dietary diversification and exposure to antibiotics both had an impact on the amount of fecal SCFAs. Government policy should concentrate on raising community awareness about proper antibiotic usage and enhancing the nutritional diversity of children under the age of five using the food options.