Propionate
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
A short-chain fatty acid produced by gut bacterial fermentation of dietary fibre. Propionate is primarily metabolised by the liver and has been shown to reduce cholesterol synthesis and regulate appetite and glucose metabolism.
Related terms
Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)
Metabolites produced when gut bacteria ferment dietary fibre. The three main SCFAs — butyrate, propionate, and acetate — are critical for colon health, immune regulation, and energy metabolism.
Butyrate
The most studied short-chain fatty acid, produced primarily by Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and other anaerobic bacteria. Butyrate is the primary energy source for colonocytes (colon lining cells) and has anti-inflammatory properties.