Reference entry
Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
Glossary context
Defined
in the site-wide microbiome glossary
Definition
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.
Related terms
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.
Prebiotic
Non-digestible food components (typically dietary fibres) that selectively stimulate the growth or activity of beneficial gut bacteria. Common examples include inulin, FOS, and GOS.