Short-chain fatty acid
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are fatty acids of two to six carbon atoms.[1] The SCFAs' lower limit is interpreted differently, either with one, two, three or four carbon atoms.[citation needed] Derived from intestinal microbial fermentation of indigestible foods, SCFAs in human gut are acetic, propionic and butyric acid. Butyrate is the main energy source of colonocytes, making them crucial to gastrointestinal health.[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 | edit source]| 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-Methylbutanoic acid | 2-Methylbutanoate | 2-Methylbutanoate | C5H10O2 | CH3CH2CH(CH3)COOH | 102.13 | |
Functions
[edit | edit source]SCFAs are produced when dietary fiber is fermented in the colon.[1][3] 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,[4] 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, affecting the production of lipids, energy, and vitamins.[1][2][5] Butyric acid supports large intestine health as the primary energy source for colonocytes – the epithelial cells of the colon.[1][2] The liver can use acetate for energy.[6]
See also
[edit | edit source]- 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
- Odd-chain fatty acid
References
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