Proprionate

Propionate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by the fermentation of dietary fibers by gut microbiota such as Fibrobacter and Bacteroides species. It serves multiple roles in human health, including as a substrate for gluconeogenesis in the liver, thereby influencing glucose metabolism. Propionate also acts as a satiety enhancer by stimulating the release of hormones that regulate appetite. Additionally, it has been shown to reduce cholesterol synthesis, which may help in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Its role in regulating inflammation and oxidative stress also contributes to its protective effects in the colon.¹Hosseini, E., Grootaert, C., Verstraete, W., & Van de Wiele, T. (2011). Propionate as a health-promoting microbial metabolite in the human gut. Nutrition Reviews, 69(5), 245-258. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00388.x.

Role of proprionate in human health

1. Energy Metabolism and Glucose Production: Propionate is important for liver health as it serves as a substrate for gluconeogenesis, thus playing a role in maintaining blood sugar levels. This can be particularly beneficial in preventing diet-induced obesity and managing diabetes.²Perry, R. J., Peng, L., Barry, N. A., Cline, G. W., Zhang, D., Cardone, R. L., Petersen, K. F., & Shulman, G. I. (2016). Acetate mediates a microbiome-brain-β-cell axis to promote metabolic syndrome. Nature, 534(7606), 213-217. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature18309.
2. Cholesterol Reduction: Propionate can influence cholesterol levels by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis in the liver, which helps in the management and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.³Wanders, A. J., van den Borne, J. J., de Graaf, C., Hulshof, T., Jonathan, M. C., Kristensen, M., Mars, M., Schols, H. A., & Feskens, E. J. (2011). Effects of dietary fibre on subjective appetite, energy intake and body weight: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Obesity Reviews, 12(9), 724-739. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00895.x
3. Gut Health and Colon Cancer Prevention: Propionate impacts colon health by promoting epithelial cell growth and reducing inflammation, potentially lowering the risk of colon cancer.⁴Chambers, E. S., Viardot, A., Psichas, A., Morrison, D. J., Murphy, K. G., Zac-Varghese, S. E., MacDougall, K., Preston, T., Tedford, C., Finlayson, G. S., Blundell, J. E., Bell, J. D., Thomas, E. L., Mt-Isa, S., Ashby, D., Gibson, G. R., Kolida, S., Dhillo, W. S., Bloom, S. R., Morley, W., Clegg, S., & Frost, G. (2015). Effects of targeted delivery of propionate to the human colon on appetite regulation, body weight maintenance and adiposity in overweight adults. Gut, 64(11), 1744-1754. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2014-307913.
4. Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Propionate has anti-inflammatory properties in the gut, which help modulate immune responses, beneficial for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).⁵Tedelind, S., Westberg, F., Kjerrulf, M., & Vidal, A. (2007). Anti-inflammatory properties of the short-chain fatty acids acetate and propionate: A study with relevance to inflammatory bowel disease. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 13(20), 2826-2832. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v13.i20.2826.

Fun fact about proprionate:

Proprionate not only benefits human health by serving various metabolic and gut health roles but also has a unique application in food preservation. Propionate, specifically calcium propionate, is widely used as a food additive to prevent mold and bacterial growth in baked goods, such as bread and pastries. This property helps extend the shelf life of products without affecting their taste or safety. Interestingly, while it serves this protective role in food, in the human gut, propionate produced by bacterial fermentation plays a crucial role in maintaining health by regulating metabolism and immune responses.

Where to find your proprionate score in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test features your proprionate score in the postbiotics report.

Important disclaimer

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions with medications/health conditions before changing your diet or starting to take food supplements.

References

• 1
  Hosseini, E., Grootaert, C., Verstraete, W., & Van de Wiele, T. (2011). Propionate as a health-promoting microbial metabolite in the human gut. Nutrition Reviews, 69(5), 245-258. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00388.x.
• 2
  Perry, R. J., Peng, L., Barry, N. A., Cline, G. W., Zhang, D., Cardone, R. L., Petersen, K. F., & Shulman, G. I. (2016). Acetate mediates a microbiome-brain-β-cell axis to promote metabolic syndrome. Nature, 534(7606), 213-217. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature18309.
• 3
  Wanders, A. J., van den Borne, J. J., de Graaf, C., Hulshof, T., Jonathan, M. C., Kristensen, M., Mars, M., Schols, H. A., & Feskens, E. J. (2011). Effects of dietary fibre on subjective appetite, energy intake and body weight: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Obesity Reviews, 12(9), 724-739. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2011.00895.x
• 4
  Chambers, E. S., Viardot, A., Psichas, A., Morrison, D. J., Murphy, K. G., Zac-Varghese, S. E., MacDougall, K., Preston, T., Tedford, C., Finlayson, G. S., Blundell, J. E., Bell, J. D., Thomas, E. L., Mt-Isa, S., Ashby, D., Gibson, G. R., Kolida, S., Dhillo, W. S., Bloom, S. R., Morley, W., Clegg, S., & Frost, G. (2015). Effects of targeted delivery of propionate to the human colon on appetite regulation, body weight maintenance and adiposity in overweight adults. Gut, 64(11), 1744-1754. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2014-307913.
• 5
  Tedelind, S., Westberg, F., Kjerrulf, M., & Vidal, A. (2007). Anti-inflammatory properties of the short-chain fatty acids acetate and propionate: A study with relevance to inflammatory bowel disease. World Journal of Gastroenterology, 13(20), 2826-2832. https://doi.org/10.3748/wjg.v13.i20.2826.

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