Short-chain fatty acid
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are fatty acids with fewer than six carbon atoms. They are produced when the friendly gut bacteria ferment fiber in your colon, and are the main source of energy for the cells lining your colon.
Production[edit | edit source]
SCFAs are produced by the bacterial fermentation of dietary fibers in the human colon. The major SCFAs in humans are acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. These three acids represent 95% of the SCFAs present in the colon. They are produced in the largest amounts in the proximal colon and decrease along the length of the colon.
Functions[edit | edit source]
SCFAs play a major role in the health of the human body. They are the main energy source for the cells in the colon, help maintain the health and integrity of the intestinal wall, and have anti-inflammatory properties. They also play a role in appetite regulation and may have various other health benefits.
Health Benefits[edit | edit source]
SCFAs have been linked to many health benefits. They may help reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other conditions. Some of these benefits are due to their role in gut health and inflammation, while others are related to their effects on metabolism.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Short-chain fatty acid Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
