Nutrient Metabolism—Research Communication Megasphaera elsdenii JCM1772 Normalizes Hyperlactate Production in the Large Intestine of Fructooligosaccharide-Fed Rats by Stimulating Butyrate Production

Hyperlactate production is related to disorders of the large intestine such as inflammatory bowel diseases. Lactate, an intermediate in hindgut fermentation, is metabolized to SCFA. Megasphaera elsdenii can convert lactate to butyrate, a physiologically important organic acid for the hindgut mucosa. This experiment was conducted to determine whether M. elsdenii normalizes hyperlactate production and stimulates butyrate production in the rat large intestine. Specific pathogen–free Sprague-Dawley male rats (n 12) were fed a fructooligosaccharide (FOS)supplemented (100 g/kg), semipurified diet to induce lactate production. Lactate excretion in all rats was >30 mmol/kg fresh feces on d 2 of FOS-feeding. The rats were divided into two groups on the morning of d 4. One group (n 5) was dosed orally with M. elsdenii JCM1772 (1.3 10 cells) for 3 d. The other group was treated with a vehicle solution. Fecal lactate was significantly lower in rats administered M. elsdenii than in controls. An increase in fecal butyrate compensated for the decrease in lactate. The number of cecal epithelial cells was greater in rats administered M. elsdenii than in controls. M. elsdenii has the potential to normalize hyperlactate accumulation in the large intestine, and lactate-utilizing butyrate producers may be useful probiotics when hyperlactate fermentation in the large intestine is a problem. J. Nutr. 133: 3187–3190, 2003.