Propionate production from fermentation of selected β-glucans by gut microbiota in vitro

Abstract

The short chain fatty acids (SCFA); acetate, propionate, and butyrate are produced by colonic fermentation of non-digestible carbo-hydrates (NDC) by the gut microbiota. Propionate is thought to play a prominent role in metabolic health and has recently been shown to contribute to intestinal gluconeogenesis (1) , and appetite regulation (2) . These effects are thought to be mediated, at least in part, by SCFA induced activation of free fatty acid receptors 2 and 3 (FFAR2/3). Identifying NDC that increase the production of propionate may be advantageous to metabolic health (1) . Beta (β) glucans are NDC polysaccharides composed solely of glucose and have been linked with increased propionate production in vitro (3,4)