Short-chain fatty acid

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are fatty acids with fewer than six carbon atoms.[1] Derived from intestinal microbial fermentation of indigestible foods, SCFAs are the main energy source of colonocytes, making them crucial to gastrointestinal health.[1][2]

List of SCFAs
Lipid number Name Salt/Ester Name Formula Mass
(g/mol)		 Diagram
Common Systematic Common Systematic Molecular Structural
C1:0 Formic acid Methanoic acid Formate Methanoate CH2O2 HCOOH 46.03
C2:0 Acetic acid Ethanoic acid Acetate Ethanoate C2H4O2 CH3COOH 60.05
C3:0 Propionic acid Propanoic acid Propionate Propanoate C3H6O2 CH3CH2COOH 74.08
C4:0 Butyric acid Butanoic acid Butyrate Butanoate C4H8O2 CH3(CH2)2COOH 88.11
C4:0 Isobutyric acid 2-Methylpropanoic acid Isobutyrate 2-Methylpropanoate C4H8O2 (CH3)2CHCOOH 88.11
C5:0 Valeric acid Pentanoic acid Valerate Pentanoate C5H10O2 CH3(CH2)3COOH 102.13
C5:0 Isovaleric acid 3-Methylbutanoic acid Isovalerate 3-Methylbutanoate C5H10O2 (CH3)2CHCH2COOH 102.13

Functions

SCFAs are produced when dietary fiber is fermented in the colon.[1][3] Macronutrient composition (carbohydrate, protein, or fat) of diets affects circulating SCFAs.[4]

Acetate, propionate, and butyrate are the three most common SCFAs.[3]

SCFAs and medium-chain fatty acids are primarily absorbed through the portal vein during lipid digestion,[5] while long-chain fatty acids are packed into chylomicrons, enter lymphatic capillaries, then transfer to the blood at the subclavian vein.[1]

SCFAs have diverse physiological roles in body functions.[1][2] They can affect the production of lipids, energy and vitamins.[6] They can also affect appetite and cardiometabolic health.[4] Butyrate is particularly important for colon health because it is the primary energy source for colonocytes.[1][2] The liver can use acetate for energy.[7]

See also
  • List of carboxylic acids
  • Medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA), fatty acid with aliphatic tails of 6 to 12 carbons, which can form medium-chain triglycerides
  • Long-chain fatty acid (LCFA, fatty acid with aliphatic tails of 13 to 21 carbons
  • Very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA), fatty acid with aliphatic tails of 22 or more carbons


References
  1. Brody, Tom (1999). Nutritional Biochemistry (2nd ed.). Academic Press. p. 320. ISBN 978-0121348366. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  2. Canfora EE, Jocken JW, Blaak EE (2015). "Short-chain fatty acids in control of body weight and insulin sensitivity". Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 11 (10): 577–91. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2015.128. PMID 26260141.
  3. Wong, J. M.; De Souza, R; Kendall, C. W.; Emam, A; Jenkins, D. J. (2006). "Colonic health: Fermentation and short chain fatty acids". Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology. 40 (3): 235–43. doi:10.1097/00004836-200603000-00015. PMID 16633129.
  4. Mueller, Noel T; Zhang, Mingyu; Juraschek, Stephen P; Miller, Edgar R; Appel, Lawrence J (2020-01-11). "Effects of high-fiber diets enriched with carbohydrate, protein, or unsaturated fat on circulating short chain fatty acids: results from the OmniHeart randomized trial". The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 111 (3): 545–554. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqz322. ISSN 0002-9165. PMC 7049528. PMID 31927581.
  5. Kuksis, Arnis (2000). "Biochemistry of Glycerolipids and Formation of Chylomicrons". In Christophe, Armand B.; DeVriese, Stephanie (eds.). Fat Digestion and Absorption. The American Oil Chemists Society. p. 163. ISBN 978-1893997127. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  6. Byrne, C. S; Chambers, E. S; Morrison, D. J; Frost, G (2015). "The role of short chain fatty acids in appetite regulation and energy homeostasis". International Journal of Obesity. 39 (9): 1331–1338. doi:10.1038/ijo.2015.84. PMC 4564526. PMID 25971927.
  7. Roy, Claude C.; Kien, C. Lawrence; Bouthillier, Lise; Levy, Emile (2006). "Short-chain fatty acids: Ready for prime time?". Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 21 (4): 351–366. doi:10.1177/0115426506021004351. ISSN 0884-5336. PMID 16870803.

Further reading
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