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 | Template:Chemical formula | HCOOH | 46.03 |  |
| C2:0 | Acetic acid | Ethanoic acid | Acetate | Ethanoate | Template:Chemical formula | CH3COOH | 60.05 |  |
| C3:0 | Propionic acid | Propanoic acid | Propionate | Propanoate | Template:Chemical formula | CH3CH2COOH | 74.08 |  |
| C4:0 | Butyric acid | Butanoic acid | Butyrate | Butanoate | Template:Chemical formula | CH3(CH2)2COOH | 88.11 |  |
| C4:0 | Isobutyric acid | 2-Methylpropanoic acid | Isobutyrate | 2-Methylpropanoate | Template:Chemical formula | (CH3)2CHCOOH | 88.11 |  |
| C5:0 | Valeric acid | Pentanoic acid | Valerate | Pentanoate | Template:Chemical formula | CH3(CH2)3COOH | 102.13 |  |
| C5:0 | Isovaleric acid | 3-Methylbutanoic acid | Isovalerate | 3-Methylbutanoate | Template:Chemical formula | (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
- ^ a b c d e f Brody, Tom (1999). Nutritional Biochemistry (2nd ed.). Academic Press. p. 320. ISBN 978-0121348366. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.