Beneficial effects of butyrate on brain functions: A view of epigenetic
Abstract
Brain functions are influenced by the presence, activity, and metabolism of the gut microbiota through the gut-microbiota-brain (GMB) axis. The consumption of a fiber-rich diet increases the content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from bacterial fermentation in the colon. Among SCFAs, butyrate stands out because of its wide array of biological functions, such as ability to influence brain functions. Pharmacologically, sodium butyrate (NaB) regulates gene expression in the brain, where it has several beneficial effects ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to behavioral disorders through inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACis). In this context, we review the mechanisms of action of the two types of butyrate on brain functions, with an emphasis on the epigenetic approach. Both types of butyrate are potentially interesting for the prevention and adjuvant therapy of neurological and psychological disorders due to their neuroprotective functions. However, further studies are needed to investigate the possible neuroepigenetic effects of butyrate derived from bacterial fermentation.
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The beneficial effects of butyrate supplementation on PD pathologies might be attributed to its potent HDAC inhibitory activity and its ability to promote intestinal barrier and BBB integrity.
“The beneficial effects of butyrate supplementation on PD pathologies might be attributed to its potent HDAC inhibitory activity and its ability to promote intestinal barrier and BBB integrity.336–339”
From Microbiota–gut–brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [339]
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References 88 · Cited by 110
- Authors
- Alpino, G. D. C. Á., Pereira-Sol, G. A., Dias, M. D. M. E., Aguiar, A. S. D., & Peluzio, M. D. C. G.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal de Viçosa (BR)
- Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora, Brasil
- Universidade Federal Fluminense (BR)
- Departamento de Nutrição e Saúde, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Brasil
- Corresponding author
- Alpino, Gabriela de Cássia Ávila
- ORCID
- Venue
- Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2022-10-26
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 3961-3970
- ISSN
- 1040-8398 (ISSN-L)
- 1549-7852
- OpenAlex
- W4307337275
- Cited by
- 110
- References
- 88
- Citations by year
- 2026: 46 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 9
- FWCI
- 1.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- butyrate, sodium butyrate, gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, short-chain fatty acids, histone deacetylase inhibitors, epigenetics, neuroprotection, neurodegenerative diseases, behavioral disorders, dietary fiber, gene expression regulation
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Brain-Gut Axis, Animals, Brain, Butyrates, Dietary Fiber, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Fermentation, Humans, Butyric Acid, Epigenesis, Genetic, Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
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