Effects of butyrylated lotus seed starch on small intestinal bacteria and short-chain fatty acid production in mice

With the highest utilization rates of all short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), butyric acid (BA) is essential for human health. In this study, we investigated butyrylated lotus seed starch (LSB) effects on small intestinal bacteria and SCFA levels in mice. Mouse body weights, after lotus seed resistant starch (RS) and LSB of different degrees of substitution (DS) treatment for 4 weeks, showed no significant difference. LSB of low DS improved small intestine morphology. Relative Lactobacillaceae and Lachnospiraceae abundance was promoted, and several harmful genera e.g., Desulfovibrio were suppressed in LSB groups. From correlation analyses, BA production was negatively related to Bacteroides and Corynebacterium. In this study, we identified butyrylated starch effects on small intestinal bacteria and provided a foundation for designing functional dietary fibers, which induced high BA levels.