H2 generated by fermentation in the human gut microbiome influences metabolism and competitive fitness of gut butyrate producers.
Austin Campbell, Kristi Gdanetz, Alexander W Schmidt, Thomas M Schmidt · Microbiome · 2023
Research-use notice
Independent study record
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H2HUBB TAKEAWAY
In a synthetic gut microbial community, addition of the H₂-consuming human gut methanogen Methanobrevibacter smithii decreased butyrate production alongside H₂ concentration. This source-grounded publication contributes evidence relevant to molecular hydrogen and is retained in a transparent general research category when a more specific study design is not supported by the indexed record.
What the Findings Mean
H2HUBB reviewed how molecular hydrogen was evaluated in this publication and summarizes the source-grounded findings below. In a synthetic gut microbial community, addition of the H₂-consuming human gut methanogen Methanobrevibacter smithii decreased butyrate production alongside H₂ concentration.
What the Researchers Studied
Regulation of butyrate production in the human gut is of particular interest due to its role as a mediator of colonic health through anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties.
What Effects Did Molecular Hydrogen Have?
Concentrations of H₂, methane, and carbon dioxide gas were measured, and hydrogen and methane measurements were normalized based on an assumed nominal concentration of 3.5% carbon dioxide. The BreathTracker analyzer was calibrated daily using a standard calibration gas containing 150 ppm H₂, 75 ppm methane, and 6% carbon dioxide (QuinTron, Cat#QT07500-G). The quantifications of fecal butyrate in each fecal sample and H₂ and methane in each breath sample are provided in Supplementary Table 1. In a synthetic gut microbial community, addition of the H₂-consuming human gut methanogen Methanobrevibacter smithii decreased butyrate production alongside H₂ concentration. The authors concluded that H₂ is a regulator of fermentation in the human gut microbiome.
Why These Findings Matter
These findings add evidence supporting molecular hydrogen's therapeutic potential within the biological process and outcomes directly measured in this publication and contribute to the growing body of molecular-hydrogen research.
How Strong Is This Evidence?
H2HUBB classifies this publication as other research and interprets only the outcomes directly supported by the source record.
Technical Study Details
H2HUBB classifies this publication as other research with other supported evidence.
Limitations and Safety
No separate limitations or safety findings were identified in the current-study source text available to H2HUBB.
Original Study and H2HUBB Research Context
H2HUBB presents this source-grounded research record as one contribution to the broader molecular-hydrogen evidence base.