Circulating but not faecal short-chain fatty acids are related to insulin sensitivity, lipolysis and GLP-1 concentrations in humans

authored by
M. Müller, M.A. González Hernández, G.H. Goossens, D. Reijnders, J.J. Holst, J.W.E. Jocken, H. van Eijk, E.E. Canfora, E.E. Blaak
Abstract

Microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) acetate, propionate and butyrate may provide a link between gut microbiota and whole-body insulin sensitivity (IS). In this cross-sectional study (160 participants, 64% male, BMI: 19.2–41.0 kg/m

2, normal or impaired glucose metabolism), associations between SCFA (faecal and fasting circulating) and circulating metabolites, substrate oxidation and IS were investigated. In a subgroup (n = 93), IS was determined using a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for sex, age and BMI. Fasting circulating acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations were positively associated with fasting GLP-1 concentrations. Additionally, circulating SCFA were negatively related to whole-body lipolysis (glycerol), triacylglycerols and free fatty acids levels (standardized (std) β adjusted (adj) −0.190, P = 0.023; std β adj −0.202, P = 0.010; std β adj −0.306, P = 0.001, respectively). Circulating acetate and propionate were, respectively, negatively and positively correlated with IS (M-value: std β adj −0.294, P < 0.001; std β adj 0.161, P = 0.033, respectively). We show that circulating rather than faecal SCFA were associated with GLP-1 concentrations, whole-body lipolysis and peripheral IS in humans. Therefore, circulating SCFA are more directly linked to metabolic health, which indicates the need to measure circulating SCFA in human prebiotic/probiotic intervention studies as a biomarker/mediator of effects on host metabolism.

External Organisation(s)
Maastricht University Medical Center
University of Copenhagen
Type
Article
Journal
Scientific reports
Volume
9
ISSN
2045-2322
Publication date
29.08.2019
Publication status
E-pub ahead of print
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Electronic version(s)
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48775-0 (Access: Open)