Dietary Gut Microbial Metabolites, Short-chain Fatty Acids, and Host Metabolic Regulation

Abstract

During feeding, the gut microbiota contributes to the host energy acquisition and metabolic regulation thereby influencing the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate, which are produced by gut microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, are recognized as essential host energy sources and act as signal transduction molecules via G-protein coupled receptors (FFAR2, FFAR3, OLFR78, GPR109A) and as epigenetic regulators of gene expression by the inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC). Recent evidence suggests that dietary fiber and the gut microbial-derived SCFAs exert multiple beneficial effects on the host energy metabolism not only by improving the intestinal environment, but also by directly affecting various host peripheral tissues. In this review, we summarize the roles of gut microbial SCFAs in the host energy regulation and present an overview of the current understanding of its physiological functions.

Symbiotic effect of Aloe vera juice on the growth of Lactobacilllus fermentum and L. helveticus isolates in vitro

“…SCFAs such as acetic, propionic and butyric acid which are produced by gut microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, are recognized as essential host energy sources and act as signal transduction molecules via G-protein coupled receptors (FFAR2, FFAR3, OLFR78, GPR109A) and as epigenetic regulators of gene expression by the inhibition of histone deacetylase. Kasubuchi M. and his colleague [22] summarized the roles of gut microbial SCFAs in the host energy regulation and presented an overview of the current understanding of its physiological functions.…”

Investigating the early metabolic fingerprint of celiac disease – a prospective approach

“…This however is not expected to exists at the age of 4 month prior to gluten introduction. SCFA are products of microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the colon and, while butyrate mainly feeds the enterocytes, acetate and propionate are transported to peripheral organs for gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis and other metabolic and immune response pathways [29,30].…”

Biochemical activities of lactose-derived prebiotics — a review

“…In the intestine, lactose-derived prebiotics are transformed to short chain fatty acids by probiotics. It has been reported that short chain fatty acids may affect plasma glucose levels by increasing the gut hormones GLP-1 and PYY, via activation of the receptors Ffar3 and Ffar2 (KELLOW et al, 2014;KASUBUCHI et al, 2015). Lactose derived prebiotics promote the growth of probiotics, those offer anti-diabetic effects against insulin resistance and infl ammation by increasing liver natural killer T cells, modulating tumor necrosis factor-α expression and reducing nuclear factor-κB binding activity (MA et al, 2008).…”