Sodium butyrate intake and colon carcinogenesis in Wistar rats

The role of short chain fatty acids in murine colonic carcinogenesis has not yet been clarified, We have evaluated the influence of either sodium butyrate 2%-pH 7 or 4 g/l sodium chloride intake in drinking water, in murine colonic carcinogenesis. Sixty-three male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. All animals received weekly dimethylhydrazine 20 mg/kg subcutaneously for 12 weeks. Fecal short chain fatty acids content was determined by gas chromatography Necropsy was performed after 6 months, Neoplasm was present in 34% of the animals, The number of animals with tumors was: sodium butyrate: 5/21; sodium chloride: 9/20; control: 7/21 (NS), Total fecal concentration of short chain fatty acids and butyric acid by group were non significantly different, Neither sodium butyrate nor sodium chloride intake in drinking water have modified colonic carcinogenesis in our animal model. These findings do not discard the possible role of endogenous colonic short chain fatty acids, in the prevention of colonic carcinogenesis.