Butyric acid generation from kidney beans mediated by gut microbiota based on the butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase pathway

Kidney beans have prebiotic potential in preventing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes by regulating gut microbiota. In the present study, an in vitro simulated colonic fermentation model was established to identify the influences of kidney beans on the intestinal micro-ecosystem via the evolution of microbes and their metabolites. The results showed that kidney beans effectively facilitated the proliferation of probiotics represented by Bifidobacterium and inhibited the colonization of Fusobacterium served as the biomarker for colorectal cancer. Meanwhile, kidney beans facilitated the generating of lactic acid and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and the multi-omics analysis revealed butyric acid was mainly synthesized via the butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase pathway mediated by kidney beans rich in resistant starch and phenolics. Conclusively, this study provided new evidence for the characterization of gut microbial SCFAs metabolism in kidney beans and established the theoretical basis for the health benefits of kidney beans.