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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.