Department of Biochemistry and Human Nutrition, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland.
Department of Nursing, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland.
Nutrients. 2018 Dec 7;10(12):1939. doi: 10.3390/nu10121939.
Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) being produced during fermentation of non-digestible polysaccharides are regulatory compounds with the potential to influence inflammatory, as well as emotional state and cognition through the gut⁻brain axis. We analyzed the association between stool concentration of SCFAs (acetic acid (C 2:0), propionic acid (C 3:0), isobutyric acid (C 4:0 ), butyric acid (C 4:0 ), isovaleric acid (C 5:0 ) valeric acid (C 5:0 ), isocaproic acid (C 6:0 ), caproic acid, and (C 6:0 ) heptanoic acid (C 7:0)) and depressive symptoms among women and looked for the potential confounders of microbiota byproduct synthesis. We enrolled 116 women aged 52.0 ± 4.7 years and recognized depression in 47 (40.52%). To analyze the emotional state, Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) was used. We assessed SCFAs content by means of gas chromatography. Fiber intake was estimated using parts of food frequency questionnaire. The content of acetic acid was significantly lowered compared to non-depressed women (median {IQR}: 29.49 {20.81} vs. 34.99 {19.55}, = 0.04). A tendency toward decreased level of propionic acid was noticed (median {IQR}: 16.88 {9.73} vs. 21.64 {12.17}, = 0.07), while the concentration of isocaproic acid was significantly increased in (median {IQR}: 0.89 {1.15} vs. 0.56 {0.95}, < 0.01) comparison to matched healthy subjects. We found negative correlations between acetate, propionate, and Beck's score (r = -0.2, = 0.03; r = -0.21, = 0.02, respectively). Statistically significant correlations between acetate and propionate and BDI somatic score (r = -0.21, = 0.01; r = -0.17, = 0.03), as well as correlations regarding isocaproic and both cognitive/affective (r = 0.37, = 0.0001) and somatic (r = 9.37, < 0.001) scores were found. Women who declared current usage of lipid-lowering and thyroid drugs in the past, had higher content of C6:0-i (Users; median {IQR}: 1.91 {3.62} vs. non-users; 0.55 {0.67}; = 0.0048).and lower of C2:0 (Users; median {IQR}: 23.07 {12.80} vs. non users 33.73 {21.44}; = 0.041), respectively. No correlations regarding SCFAs concentration and fiber intake were found. We concluded that SCFAs may potentially contribute to depression phenotype, however, due to the small size of groups suffering from moderately heavy ( = 5) and severe ( = 7) depression, the conclusion should be treated with caution. Pharmacotherapy of hyperlipidemia and thyroid disease might affect SCFAs synthesis. Studies with more participants are required.
短链脂肪酸（SCFAs）是在不可消化的多糖发酵过程中产生的调节化合物，有可能通过肠道-大脑轴影响炎症以及情绪状态和认知。我们分析了粪便中 SCFA（乙酸（C2:0）、丙酸（C3:0）、异丁酸（C4:0）、丁酸（C4:0）、异戊酸（C5:0）、戊酸（C5:0）、正己酸（C6:0）、己酸（C6:0）和庚酸（C7:0））浓度与女性抑郁症状之间的关联，并寻找微生物群落副产物合成的潜在混杂因素。我们招募了 116 名年龄为 52.0±4.7 岁的女性，其中 47 人（40.52%）患有抑郁症。为了分析情绪状态，我们使用贝克抑郁量表（BDI）。我们通过气相色谱法来评估 SCFA 的含量。通过部分食物频率问卷来估计纤维摄入量。与非抑郁女性相比，乙酸的含量明显降低（中位数{IQR}：29.49{20.81}vs.34.99{19.55}， = 0.04）。丙酸的水平呈下降趋势（中位数{IQR}：16.88{9.73}vs.21.64{12.17}， = 0.07），而异己酸的浓度在（中位数{IQR}：0.89{1.15}vs.0.56{0.95}， < 0.01）与匹配的健康受试者相比显著增加。我们发现乙酸盐、丙酸盐和贝克评分之间存在负相关（r = -0.2， = 0.03；r = -0.21， = 0.02）。乙酸盐和丙酸盐与 BDI 躯体评分之间存在显著相关性（r = -0.21， = 0.01；r = -0.17， = 0.03），以及关于异己酸和认知/情感（r = 0.37， = 0.0001）和躯体（r = 9.37， < 0.001）评分的相关性。在过去曾使用降脂药物和甲状腺药物的女性，其 C6:0-i（使用者；中位数{IQR}：1.91{3.62}vs.非使用者；0.55{0.67}； = 0.0048）含量较高，C2:0（使用者；中位数{IQR}：23.07{12.80}vs.非使用者 33.73{21.44}； = 0.041）含量较低。未发现 SCFA 浓度与纤维摄入量之间存在相关性。我们得出结论，SCFA 可能对抑郁表型有潜在影响，但由于患有中度（ = 5）和重度（ = 7）抑郁症的患者人数较少，结论应谨慎对待。高脂血症和甲状腺疾病的药物治疗可能会影响 SCFA 的合成。需要更多参与者的研究。
