Certain organisms are capable of producing the SCFA n-butyrate from mucin degradation,67 and n-butyrate as well as mixed SCFAs have been shown to reduce colon inflammation in UC.68,69 Yamada et al.67 found decreased mucinase activity and decreased levels of n-butyrate in the stool of UC patients, but a significantly higher O-glycan-to-mucin protein ratio. The gene discussed is MUC5AC; the disease is colitis.