A short chain fatty acid enema is prescribed for treating ulcerative colitis – a chronic condition affecting the digestive system. Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and sores in the colon and rectum. The symptoms of this condition can be debilitating and may include diarrhea, rectal pain, urgency to defecate, abdominal pain, and bleeding. Short chain fatty acids have been promoted as a treatment method for reducing these painful symptoms and improving colonic health.

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are found in the digestive tract and affect the health of the colon. The three predominant types are acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which together account for 90-95% of the SCFAs in the colon. These compounds provide the majority of metabolic energy to normal colonic epithelial cells. Colitis results when there is a deficiency of SCFAs. The symptoms of ulcerative colitis can be reduced by correcting this deficiency with an enema that includes a short chain fatty acid mixture.

Short Chain Fatty Acid Enema Prescription

Short chain fatty acid enemas are most effective for patients with distal ulcerative colitis, which affects the left colon and rectum. The most common prescription is to rinse once in the morning and once before bed, making sure to retain the enema as long as possible. A short chain fatty acid enema mixture includes three main ingredients to replace the most predominant SCFAs that exist in a healthy colon. The enemas we compound include a mixture of the following in a solution:

• Sodium acetate
• Sodium propionate
• Sodium butyrate

External Links

• Short chain fatty acid rectal irrigation for left-sided ulcerative colitis: a randomised, placebo controlled trial. – Gut
• Intestinal Short Chain Fatty Acids and their Link with Diet and Human Health. – Frontiers in Microbiology