What is the Origin of Microbial Metabolites?

The study of the gut microbiome and its products is a rapidly evolving field, gaining significant traction in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The term "metabolites" refers to the products of microbial metabolism, emphasizing the chemical communication between the microbes and the human host. This research has redefined our understanding of human health.

What is the Mechanism of Microbial Metabolites?

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, acetate, and propionate are primary examples, produced from the fermentation of dietary fiber. SCFAs act on G-protein coupled receptors on host cells, influencing colonocyte energy, regulating immune cell differentiation, and even crossing the blood-brain barrier. Other metabolites modulate host hormone synthesis or detoxification pathways, linking gut health directly to systemic endocrinology.

Microbial Metabolites ∞ Area

Microbial Metabolites

Meaning

The diverse range of biologically active small molecules, including short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, and neurotransmitter precursors, produced by the commensal microorganisms residing within the human gut and other microbiomes. These compounds act as critical signaling molecules that profoundly influence host physiology, impacting the endocrine, immune, and nervous systems. They are essential intermediaries in the gut-hormone and gut-brain axes.