Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acid production (SCFA production)

Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production is a critical metabolic process occurring in the large intestine, where commensal bacteria ferment non-digestible carbohydrates into acetate, propionate, and butyrate (Silva et al., 2020). These SCFAs serve as the primary energy source for colonic epithelial cells and act as potent signaling molecules throughout the body by activating specific G protein-coupled receptors, such as GPR41 (FFAR3) and GPR43 (FFAR2), and by inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs) (Tan et al., 2014; Davie, 2003). Through these mechanisms, SCFAs play a vital role in maintaining gut barrier integrity, modulating the immune system, and regulating systemic energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism (Koh et al., 2016). Reduced production of SCFAs is strongly associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers (Parada Venegas et al., 2019). Pharmacological and nutritional interventions, including prebiotics, probiotics, and drugs like metformin, are increasingly used to modulate the gut microbiome and enhance SCFA production for therapeutic benefit (Forslund et al., 2015).

Other names

Microbial short-chain fatty acid synthesisGut fermentationMicrobiome-mediated SCFA production

Anaerobic fermentation of non-digestible dietary carbohydrates by commensal gut bacteria into acetate, propionate, and butyrate, which subsequently act as signaling molecules by activating G protein-coupled receptors (GPR41, GPR43, GPR109A) and inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs).