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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jemma Cleminson, Dr Lauren BeckORCiD, Dr David Campbell, Professor Andrew GenneryORCiD, Professor Janet Berrington, Professor Christopher StewartORCiD
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© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. INTRODUCTION: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are microbial metabolites that play critical roles in health. As SCFAs are highly volatile molecules and ongoing bacterial metabolism in faecal samples collected can cause compositional shifts, quick SCFA preservation at the point of sample collection is of utmost importance for valid results. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the OMNImet®•GUT kit as an immediate preservation method that stabilises SCFAs at room temperature compared to a standardised laboratory sodium hydroxide method. METHODS: Faecal samples from 12 participants were included. For each sample, 1 g faeces was aliquoted into 2.5 ml OMNImet®•GUT buffer and 1 g faeces was aliquoted into 2.5 ml sodium hydroxide (current laboratory method). SCFA profiles were quantified at zero, 24-, and 48-h using gas chromatography. SCFA profiles were compared across patients, preservation method, and time point. RESULTS: Results showed that most SCFA profiles were stable and comparable between methods. The sample donor explained the most variance and was the most significant factor associated with the SCFA profiles, independent of the collection kit or duration at room temperature (R2 = 0.761, P = 0.001). However, the type of preservation method was also statistically significant (R2 = 0.090, P < 0.001). Time did not significantly impact on SCFA profiles up to 48 h (P = 0.582). CONCLUSION: These findings support OMNImet®•GUT as a practical alternative for SCFA preservation, particularly for multicentre studies where immediate sample collection can be logistically challenging, but it is important to use a consistent collection method within studies.
Author(s): Cleminson J, Kerbiriou C, McKirdy S, Beck L, Campbell DI, Gennery AR, Berrington JE, Gerasimidis K, Stewart CJ
Publication type: Letter
Publication status: Published
Journal: Metabolomics
Year: 2025
Volume: 21
Issue: 5
Online publication date: 26/09/2025
Acceptance date: 25/07/2025
ISSN (print): 1573-3882
ISSN (electronic): 1573-3890
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-025-02322-3
DOI: 10.1007/s11306-025-02322-3
PubMed id: 41003759
