Fecal amino acids (FAA)

Fecal amino acids (FAA) constitute the comprehensive profile of protein-derived metabolites present in stool, reflecting the complex interplay between dietary protein intake, host digestive efficiency, and gut microbial metabolism (PMID: 34757415). Under physiological conditions, the majority of dietary amino acids are absorbed in the small intestine, but in disease states such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), malabsorption syndromes, or colorectal cancer, FAA concentrations increase due to impaired uptake or mucosal leakage (PMID: 38814238). These molecules serve as critical non-invasive biomarkers for monitoring gut-microbiome axis health, stratifying IBD phenotypes, and assessing the risk of colorectal adenomas (PMID: 32240574). While not therapeutic targets in the traditional pharmacological sense, specific fecal amino acids like leucine and ornithine are increasingly utilized in clinical research to track disease progression and response to nutritional therapy. Furthermore, the FAA profile is highly sensitive to changes in the gut microbiota, making it a valuable tool for understanding microbial dysbiosis and host-microbe metabolic crosstalk (PMID: 31185565). Analyzing FAA profiles via high-performance liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry allows for personalized diagnostic screening and monitoring of treatment efficacy in gastrointestinal disorders.

Other names

Stool amino acidsFecal amino acid profileFAAFaecal amino acidsStool amino acid metabolites

Not applicable as fecal amino acids are metabolic biomarkers rather than therapeutic targets.