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From gut microbiota dysfunction to obesity: could short-chain fatty acids stop this dangerous course?

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Abstract

Study of the interactions between the gut microbiota and brain-gut axis represents a very appealing approach to increasing our knowledge about the mechanisms leading to obesity and obesity-related diseases. The aim of this review is to focus on the effects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are the main products of gut microbial fermentation from non-digestible carbohydrates in the colon, on the gut-brain axis. Evidence is accumulating regarding the role of SCFAs in the fine-tuning of the gut-brain axis, a feedback system which is vital not only for the proper maintenance of gastrointestinal and metabolic functions, but also for the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. SCFAs are thought to play a key role in increasing the host capacity to harvest excess energy from the diet. SCFAs, however, can exert their effects on the host metabolism via multiple complementary pathways. Metabolic, inflammatory, and neural pathways can be regulated by SCFAs, which can act by sensing nutritional status, thereby maintaining body energy homeostasis. SCFA production from prebiotic consumption is the rationale for targeting intestinal mechanisms to increase energy expenditure and thereby reduce obesity risk.

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Author notes

  1. Luigi Barrea and Giovanna Muscogiuri contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Endocrinology, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Federico II University Medical School of Naples, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy

    Luigi Barrea, Giovanna Muscogiuri, Daniela Laudisio, Gabriella Pugliese, Ciro Salzano, Annamaria Colao & Silvia Savastano

  2. Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131, Naples, Italy

    Giuseppe Annunziata

Authors
  1. Luigi Barrea
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  2. Giovanna Muscogiuri
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  3. Giuseppe Annunziata
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  4. Daniela Laudisio
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Correspondence to Luigi Barrea.

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Barrea, L., Muscogiuri, G., Annunziata, G. et al. From gut microbiota dysfunction to obesity: could short-chain fatty acids stop this dangerous course?. Hormones 18, 245–250 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-019-00100-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42000-019-00100-0

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