Hamari Nouhaila, Blaak Ellen E, Canfora Emanuel E
Department of Human Biology, Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Maastricht University Medical Center +, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Front Nutr. 2025 Jun 10;12:1603490. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1603490. eCollection 2025.
The gut microbiome has been identified as a significant factor in host metabolism, playing a key role in the etiology of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic risk. Butyrate, produced by the gut microbiome from indigestible carbohydrates, has been shown to have beneficial effects on body weight control, inflammation, and insulin resistance, primarily evidenced by animal studies and experiments. However, translating these benefits to humans remains challenging due to variability in mode of butyrate administration or production upon fermentation of dietary fibers, as well as in butyrate absorption, and its metabolism. For instance, oral butyrate supplementation can directly increase circulating butyrate levels, thereby targeting peripheral tissues. In contrast, butyrate produced by the gut microbiome may also influence metabolism through local signaling mechanisms affecting peripheral tissues. Additionally, there may be large heterogeneity in the response of the individuals to butyrate interventions. Future research should aim to better understand butyrate kinetics and dynamics and its mechanisms in regulating intestinal and metabolic health. In human studies, longer-term, placebo-controlled trials are needed to establish the efficacy of either targeting butyrate production or supplementation in individuals with obesity and/or metabolic disturbances. Personalized dietary interventions based on individual microbiota composition and/or function and metabolic profiles may optimize butyrate production and its metabolic benefits. This could pave the way for effective butyrate-based interventions to improve metabolic health and prevent obesity-related complications.
肠道微生物群已被确定为宿主代谢中的一个重要因素，在肥胖、2型糖尿病和心血管代谢风险的病因中起关键作用。肠道微生物群从不可消化的碳水化合物中产生的丁酸盐，已被证明对体重控制、炎症和胰岛素抵抗具有有益作用，这主要通过动物研究和实验得到证实。然而，由于丁酸盐给药方式的变异性、膳食纤维发酵时丁酸盐产生的变异性、丁酸盐吸收及其代谢的变异性，将这些益处转化到人类身上仍然具有挑战性。例如，口服补充丁酸盐可以直接提高循环丁酸盐水平，从而作用于外周组织。相比之下，肠道微生物群产生的丁酸盐也可能通过影响外周组织的局部信号机制来影响代谢。此外，个体对丁酸盐干预的反应可能存在很大的异质性。未来的研究应旨在更好地了解丁酸盐的动力学和动态变化及其调节肠道和代谢健康的机制。在人体研究中，需要进行长期的、安慰剂对照试验，以确定针对肥胖和/或代谢紊乱个体增加丁酸盐产生或补充丁酸盐的疗效。基于个体微生物群组成和/或功能以及代谢谱的个性化饮食干预可能会优化丁酸盐的产生及其代谢益处。这可能为基于丁酸盐的有效干预措施铺平道路，以改善代谢健康并预防肥胖相关并发症。
