Uptake and Metabolism of the Short-Chain Fatty Acid Butyrate, a Critical Review of the Literature

Title:Uptake and Metabolism of the Short-Chain Fatty Acid Butyrate, a Critical Review of the Literature

Volume: 13 Issue: 6

Author(s): Stuart M. Astbury and Bernard M. Corfe

Affiliation:

Keywords: Butyrate, short-chain fatty acids, beta-oxidation, transport, HDAC inhibition, butanoate, permeability

Abstract: Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) formed by bacterial fermentation of fibre in the colon, and serves as anenergy source for colonocytes. The action of butyrate as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) has led to a number of clinical trials testing its effectiveness as a potential treatment for cancer. The biology of butyrate transport is therefore relevant to both its physiological and pharmacological benefits. This review of the literature was carried out to assess the evidence for both the uptake and metabolism of butyrate, in an attempt to determine possible mechanism(s) by which butyrate can act as an HDACi. It is noted that although uptake and metabolism are well characterised, there are still significant gaps in the knowledgebase around the intracellular handing of butyrate, where assumptions or dated evidence are relied upon.

Cite this article as:

M. Astbury Stuart and M. Corfe Bernard, Uptake and Metabolism of the Short-Chain Fatty Acid Butyrate, a Critical Review of the Literature, Current Drug Metabolism 2012; 13 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920012800840428