Short Chain Fatty Acids

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are a subgroup of saturated aliphatic fatty acids containing 2-5 carbon atoms, among which acetate (C2), propionate (C3), and butyrate (C4) are the most abundant. They are the final beneficial products of dietary fiber fermentation by large intestine bacteria. Humans lack the enzymes to degrade large amounts of dietary fiber, so these indigestible fibers pass through the upper digestive tract undigested and enter the cecum and colon, where they are fermented by anaerobic cecal and colonic microbiota. The fermentation of dietary fiber produces a large number of metabolites, including short chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

For microbial communities, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are useless end products, but in anaerobic environments, they are used to maintain the redox balance in the gut. In the colon and feces, the molar ratio of acetate, propionate, and butyrate is approximately 60:20:20. Depending on diet, the total concentration of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the proximal colon ranges from 70mM to 140mM. In the distal colon, the concentration is lower, about 20mM to 70mM. About 95% of the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced in the cecum and colon are rapidly absorbed by colonic cells, with the remaining 5% excreted in the feces.

Short chain fatty acids

Past studies have shown that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play an important role in the prevention and treatment of a range of metabolic syndromes (such as intestinal diseases and certain cancers). In clinical studies, the application of SCFAs can enhance the treatment effects of certain immunological bowel diseases (such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea), although the mechanisms remain to be determined. This suggests that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can effectively promote energy metabolism in mammals. Excessive energy intake and lack of physical exercise can lead to a range of metabolic syndromes, such as hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and poor glycemic control. Epidemiological studies have shown that higher dietary fiber intake is beneficial for weight, food intake, and glucose homeostasis, and reduces the risk of metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer. This is closely related to the beneficial short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by the fermentation of dietary fiber in the cecum and colon by gut bacteria.

The amount and type of dietary fiber in the diet significantly affect the composition of gut bacteria, thereby affecting the type and quantity of short chain fatty acids produced. Typically, the in vivo production rate of short chain fatty acids from different fibers is related to the concentration of intestinal short chain fatty acids from different fiber diets. Although cecal short chain fatty acid concentrations in most model organisms are available, obtaining information on in vivo production rates is difficult. In contrast, measuring cecal short chain fatty acid concentrations in the human gut is almost impossible. Therefore, it is mostly evaluated through measuring SCFAs concentrations in feces or through in vitro studies. Biotech company BGI offers sensitive, reliable, and accurate short chain fatty acid testing services, welcome to inquire!

BGI offers analysis of the following short chain fatty acids

1. Acetic acid (C2:0)
2. Propionic acid (C3:0)
3. Butyric acid (C4:0)
4. Isobutyric acid (C4:0i)
5. Valeric acid (C5:0)
6. Isovaleric acid (C5:0i)
7. Caproic acid (Hexanoic) (C6:0)

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