Fraction of flatus that is carbon dioxide

Range 5 - 50 %
Organism Human Homo sapiens
Reference Rowland I et al., Gut microbiota functions: metabolism of nutrients and other food components. Eur J Nutr. 2017 Apr 9. doi: 10.1007/s00394-017-1445-8. p.5 right column 2nd paragraphPubMed ID28393285
Primary Source [36] Lajoie SF, Bank S, Miller TL, Wolin MJ (1988) Acetate production from hydrogen and [13C] carbon dioxide by the microflora of human feces. Appl Environ Microbiol 54: 2723–2727PubMed ID3145708
Comments P.5 right column 2nd paragraph: "Carbon dioxide is another quantitatively significant gas that is expelled in flatus. Carbon dioxide can account for between 5 and 50% of the total flatus volume and as shown above is recycled with hydrogen via methanogenesis and, to a lesser extent, acetogenesis [primary source]. In contrast to hydrogen and methane, carbon dioxide can be generated by a number of processes, not just bacterial metabolism. Three potential sources of carbon dioxide include its diffusion from the blood into the colonic lumen, the acidification of bicarbonate in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and bacterial metabolism [ref 30]. Some species of clostridia (e.g., C. sporogenes, C. butyricum, and C. perfringens) produce both carbon dioxide and hydrogen in their metabolic pathways."
Entered by Uri M
ID 113401