Author: Wong, J.M.W.; Souza, R.; Kendall, C.W.C.; Emam, A.; Jenkins, D.J.A.
in short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with the emergence of prebiotics and probiotics aimed at improving colonic and systemic health, substrates for fermentation, SCFAs, primarily acetate, propionate, and butyrate, as end products, substrate source, SCFAs are readily absorbed, Butyrate is the major energy source for colonocytes, Propionate is largely taken up by the liver. Acetate enters the peripheral circulation to be metabolized by peripheral tissues, acetate is the principal SCFA in the colon, and after absorption it has been shown to increase cholesterol synthesis, propionate, a gluconeogenerator, has been shown to inhibit cholesterol synthesis, propionate ratio may reduce serum lipids and possibly cardiovascular disease risk, Butyrate has been studied for its role in nourishing the colonic mucosa and in the prevention of cancer of the colon, promoting cell differentiation, Butyrate in the treatment of colitis, functional foods, conversion of bioactive substances such as phytoestrogens to promote or retard their absorption from the colon, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, exerting prebiotic-like effects
