caproic acid

Caproic acid, also known as hexanoic acid, is a six-carbon saturated short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) naturally produced by the intestinal microbiota. Recent research, notably presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2025, has identified caproic acid as a potential therapeutic agent for protecting against cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people living with HIV (PWH). The compound appears to be diminished in the stool of PWH with subclinical atherosclerosis. Mechanistically, caproic acid alleviates coronary artery endothelial cell (CAEC) dysfunction mediated by the proinflammatory cytokine IL-32 by downregulating the expression of inflammatory markers and adhesion molecules, including IL-6, CCL-2, ICAM-I, and VCAM-I. Unlike other SCFAs like acetic or butyric acid, caproic acid demonstrates a more comprehensive inhibitory effect on these dysfunction markers, suggesting a dominant role in restoring vascular endothelial health.

Other names

hexanoic acidC6:0 fatty acid