Detecting Small Chain Fatty Acids

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the end products of fermentation of dietary fibers by beneficial, consensual bacteria in the gut. To the microbial community, SCFAs are end products. For humans they are required to maintain the balance of redox equivalent production of the gut in the anaerobic environment. The most abundant fatty acids are formiate, acetate, propionate, and butyrate. SCFAs play an important role in the prevention and treatment of some metabolic syndromes and intestinal disease. They are typically measured by GCMS according to the protocol below.