SCFA and Gut Microbiota & Types of Bacteria †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the SCFA and Gut Microbiota Types of Bacteria. Answer: The human colon is colonized by a dense and diverse population of microorganisms commonly referred to as the gut microbiota that exert significant influence in health through production of a wide range of metabolites. Fermentation of the carbohydrates and proteins inside the colon is carried out by these gut microbiota which act as chief source of energy for cells lining the colon alongside generation of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs are termed as 1-6 carbon volatile fatty acids and commonest ones that are produced inside the gut by this microbiota are acetate, propionate and butyrate. Maintenance of metabolic homeostasis inside the colonocytes and protection from external harm is rendered by the SCFAs. They also potentiate the anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties thereby accounting for good health through conferring of protection from various pathological conditions (van der Beek et al. 2017). Research has revealed that the productions of SCFAs are dependent u pon factors such as that of nutritional intake of the host and diet mediated alterations that occur inside the gut microbiota. SCFAs also act as novel sources of energy and facilitators of the various host induced signaling cascade mechanisms that represent distinguished physiological functions necessary for maintenance of the gut environment. Foods enriched with high content of dietary fibers are capable of producing SCFAs sufficiently that are effective in combating digestive disorders like diarrhea as well as other inflammatory bowel diseases. Lab based animal studies have also showed effectiveness of SCFAs to offer protection from colon cancer besides treatment and prevention of obesity. Reduction of inflammation in addition to prohibition of cholesterol synthesis has also been speculated to act in favor of decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (Ros-Covin et al. 2016). Biological effects of SCFAs have been found to result in emanating certain beneficial changes that inc lude decrease in the luminal pH that in turn causes reduction of the pathogenic microorganism with concomitant rise in the absorption of certain nutrients. Thus, SCFAs have been recognized to be important mediators that has the ability to link nutrition with gut microbiota, physiology and pathology. Mammalian energy metabolism has been found to be dependent on the production of SCFAs and exercise potential benefits from such yield through adequate uptake by the host. Appropriate findings have also suggested that exercise serves as an adjuvant therapy for ameliorating conditions related to diminished microbial diversity thus accounting for the satisfactory production of SCFAs through increase in the richness of the gut microbiota (den Besten et al. 2013). Further, researches have indicated that the fermentation of the dietary fibers by the anaerobic intestinal microbiota lead to the synthesis of SCFAs inside the gut of humans. Among the microbiota, obligate anaerobes are the prominen t and abundant ones belonging to the genus Bacteroides, anaerobic gram positive cocci like that of Clostridium sp., Peptostreptococcussp., Lactobacillussp. and Eubacteriumsp. Other commensal bacteria have been identified to carry out gut immune homeostasis by causing limitation of the inflammatory responses through regulation of the regulatory T (Treg) cells of the immune system. Butyric acid and Propionic acid have been reported produced due to fermentation of starch by Bacillus subtilis and Propionibacterium sp. respectively (Arpaia et al. 2013). Thus, SCFAs are found to be important contributors to the maintenance of good health due to the actions exerted by the gut microbiota. References Arpaia, N., Campbell, C., Fan, X., Dikiy, S., van der Veeken, J., Liu, H., Cross, J.R., Pfeffer, K., Coffer, P.J. and Rudensky, A.Y., 2013. Metabolites produced by commensal bacteria promote peripheral regulatory T-cell generation.Nature,504(7480), pp.451-455. den Besten, G., van Eunen, K., Groen, A.K., Venema, K., Reijngoud, D.J. and Bakker, B.M., 2013. The role of short-chain fatty acids in the interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host energy metabolism.Journal of lipid research,54(9), pp.2325-2340. Ros-Covin, D., Ruas-Madiedo, P., Margolles, A., Gueimonde, M., de los Reyes-Gaviln, C.G. and Salazar, N., 2016. Intestinal short chain fatty acids and their link with diet and human health.Frontiers in microbiology,7. van der Beek, C.M., Dejong, C.H., Troost, F.J., Masclee, A.A. and Lenaerts, K., 2017. Role of short-chain fatty acids in colonic inflammation, carcinogenesis, and mucosal protection and healing.Nutrition Reviews,75(4), pp.286-305.