Short-chain fatty acid
Short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs) arefatty acidsof two to sixcarbonatoms.[1]The SCFAs' lower limit is interpreted differently, either with one, two, three or four carbon atoms.[citation needed]Derived fromintestinalmicrobialfermentationof indigestible foods, SCFAs in human gut are acetic, propionic and butyric acid. They are the main energy source ofcolonocytes,making them crucial togastrointestinalhealth.[1][2]SCFAs all possess varying degrees of water solubility, which distinguishes them from longer chain fatty acids that are immiscible.
List of SCFAs
[edit]Lipid number | Name | Salt/Ester Name | Formula | Mass (g/mol) |
Diagram | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Common | Systematic | Common | Systematic | Molecular | Structural | |||
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 | ![]() |
C5:0 | 2-Methylbutyric acid | 2-Methylbutyric acid | 2-Methylbutanoate | 2-Methylbutanoate | C5H10O2 | CH3CH2CH(CH3)COOH | 102.13 | ![]() |
Functions
[edit]SCFAs are produced whendietary fiberis fermented in thecolon.[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]Butyrateis particularly important forcolonhealth because it is the primary energy source forcolonocytes(the epithelial cells of the colon).[1][2]The liver can use acetate for energy.[5]
SCFAs andmedium-chain fatty acidsare primarily absorbed through theportal veinduringlipid digestion,[6]whilelong-chain fatty acidsare packed intochylomicrons,enterlymphatic capillaries,then transfer to the blood at thesubclavian vein.[1]
SCFAs have diversephysiologicalroles in body functions, affecting the production of lipids, energy, and vitamins.[1][2][7]They may affect appetite and cardiometabolic health.[4]
See also
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ^abcdefBrody T (1999).Nutritional Biochemistry(2nd ed.). Academic Press. p. 320.ISBN978-0121348366.RetrievedDecember 21,2012.
- ^abcCanfora EE, Jocken JW, Blaak EE (October 2015). "Short-chain fatty acids in control of body weight and insulin sensitivity".Nature Reviews. Endocrinology.11(10): 577–591.doi:10.1038/nrendo.2015.128.PMID26260141.S2CID1263823.
- ^abWong JM, de Souza R, Kendall CW, Emam A, Jenkins DJ (March 2006). "Colonic health: fermentation and short chain fatty acids".Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology.40(3): 235–243.doi:10.1097/00004836-200603000-00015.PMID16633129.S2CID46228892.
- ^abMueller NT, Zhang M, Juraschek SP, Miller ER, Appel LJ (March 2020)."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.PMC7049528.PMID31927581.
- ^Roy CC, Kien CL, Bouthillier L, Levy E (August 2006). "Short-chain fatty acids: ready for prime time?".Nutrition in Clinical Practice.21(4): 351–366.doi:10.1177/0115426506021004351.PMID16870803.
- ^Kuksis A (2000)."Biochemistry of Glycerolipids and Formation of Chylomicrons".In Christophe AB, DeVriese S (eds.).Fat Digestion and Absorption.The American Oil Chemists Society. p. 163.ISBN978-1893997127.RetrievedDecember 21,2012.
- ^Byrne CS, Chambers ES, Morrison DJ, Frost G (September 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.PMC4564526.PMID25971927.