The benefits of a high-fiber diet in the colon have been well documented in epidemiological studies, but its potential impact on the brain has been largely underappreciated. Butyrate (SCFA), produced by bacterial fermentation of fiber in the colon, may improve health in the brain. This metabolite has been extensively studied as a histone deacetylase inhibitor, but also functions as a ligand for a subset of G-protein coupled receptors and as an energy metabolite. These functions make it well-suited to address a wide range of imbalances frequently encountered in neurological disorders. This review hypothesizes that high-fiber diet metabolism in the gut may alter gene expression in the brain to prevent neurodegeneration and promote regeneration. Butyrate can target multiple pathways with multiple disease-specific mechanisms of action and lends itself as a simple, low-risk approach to potentially improve outcomes in patients with brain disorders.
Year: 2016
Nationality: USA
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