Organic Anions in Fecal Contents

Abstract

Organic anions (mainly acetate, with lesser amounts of propionate, butyrate and lactate) constitute about 75 per cent of the total anion concentration of fecal water.¹ The following scheme depicts the probable origin of acetate: These reactions explain the high concentration of organic anions (OA^-) in fecal water, as well as the discrepancy between the fact that the isolated colon secretes HCO₃ ^{-,2 , 3} and yet fecal water has a low HCO₃ ^- concentration.In the current issue of the Journal, Bustos Fernández and his co-workers have confirmed the very high concentration of OA^- in fecal water and, in . . .