But8.5

Butyrate Research

63 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 8.5/10

Gut microbiota composition in depressive disorder: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression

Gao M et al. • Translational psychiatry (2023)

This meta-analysis examined the effects of Butyrate.

A random-effects model with restricted maximum-likelihood estimator was used to synthesize the effect size (assessed by standardized mean difference [SMD]) across studies.
In subgroup analyses with regional variations(east/west) as a predictor, patients who were in the West had a lower Chao1 level (SMD -0.42[-0.74 to -0.10]).
Subgroup meta-analysis showed Firmicutes level was decreased in patients with depressive disorder who were medication-free (SMD -1.54[-2.36 to -0.72]), but Bacteroidetes level was increased (SMD -0.90[0.07 to 1.72]).

Meta-Analysisn=2,091

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Perturbations in Gut Microbiota Composition in Psychiatric Disorders: A Review and Meta-analysis

Nikolova VL et al. • JAMA psychiatry (2021)

This systematic review and meta-analysis found that gut microbiota perturbations were associated with a transdiagnostic pattern with a depletion of certain anti-inflammatory butyrate-producing bacteria and an enrichment of pro-inflammatory bacteria in patients with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety.

There was a small decrease in phylogenetic diversity (SMD = -0.24; 95% CI, -0.47 to -0.001) and no significant differences in Shannon and Simpson indices.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Meta-Analysisn=1,519

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Pharmacotherapies for Adults With Alcohol Use Disorders: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis

Bahji A et al. • Journal of addiction medicine (2022)

The current meta-analyses provide evidence that several medications for AUDs are effective and safe and encourage the expanded use of these medications in the clinical setting.

Nefazodone (RR = 2.11; 95% CI, 1.42-3.13), aripiprazole (RR = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.36-2.88), carbamazepine (RR = 1.85; 95% CI, 1.03-3.32), and nalmefene (RR = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.01-1.35) were associated with the most dropouts.
Baclofen (RR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70-0.97) and pregabalin (RR = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.43-0.94) caused fewer dropouts than placebo.
Nalmefene (RR = 3.26; 95% CI, 2.34-4.55), fluvoxamine (RR = 3.08; 95% CI, 1.59-5.94), and topiramate (RR=2.18; 95% CI, 1.36-3.51) caused more dropouts from adverse events over placebo.

Meta-Analysisn=27,334

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Gut dysbiosis in rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 92 observational studies

Wang Y et al. • EBioMedicine (2022)

Gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with rheumatic diseases, principally with potentially non-specific, shared alterations of microbes.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis was associated with rheumatic diseases, principally with potentially non-specific, shared alterations of microbes.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Meta-Analysisn=11,998

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A systematic review of gut microbiota composition in observational studies of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

McGuinness AJ et al. • Molecular psychiatry (2022)

This systematic-review examined the effects of Butyrate.

We also observed substantial heterogeneity across studies with regards to methodologies and reporting.
Further prospective and experimental research using new tools and robust guidelines hold promise for improving our understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in mental and brain health and the development of interventions based on modification of gut microbiota.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Reviewn=2,510

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Dietary fiber intervention on gut microbiota composition in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

So D et al. • The American journal of clinical nutrition (2018)

Dietary fiber intervention, particularly involving fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides, leads to higher fecal abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. but does not affect α-diversity.

Dietary fiber intervention, particularly involving fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides, leads to higher fecal abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. but does not affect α-diversity.
Further research is required to better understand the role of individual fiber types on the growth of microbes and the overall gut microbial community.
This review was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42016053101.

Meta-Analysisn=2,099

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The effect of antibiotics on the composition of the intestinal microbiota - a systematic review

Zimmermann P et al. • The Journal of infection (2019)

Antibiotics have profound and sometimes persisting effects on the intestinal microbiota, characterised by diminished abundance of beneficial commensals and increased abundance of potentially detrimental microorganisms.

Antibiotics have profound and sometimes persisting effects on the intestinal microbiota, characterised by diminished abundance of beneficial commensals and increased abundance of potentially detrimental microorganisms.
Understanding these effects will help tailor antibiotic treatment and the use of probiotics to minimise this 'collateral damage'.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Reviewn=2,076

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Gut microbiota and metabolites as predictors of biologics response in inflammatory bowel disease: A comprehensive systematic review

Wang C et al. • Microbiological research (2024)

IBD patients who responded well to vedolizumab treatment had higher levels of specific bacteria that produce butyrate, along with increased levels of metabolites such as butyrate, branched-chain am...

IBD patients who responded well to vedolizumab treatment had higher levels of specific bacteria that produce butyrate, along with increased levels of metabolites such as butyrate, branched-chain amino acids and acetamide following vedolizumab treatment.
Crohn's disease patients who responded positively to ustekinumab treatment showed higher levels of Faecalibacterium and lower levels of Escherichia/Shigella.

Systematic Reviewn=38

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Systematic review of the association between short-chain fatty acids and allergic diseases

Sasaki M et al. • Allergy (2024)

Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Overall, there was some evidence showing that the three main SCFAs (acetate, propionate and butyrate) in the first few years of life had a protective effect against allergic diseases, especially for atopic dermatitis, wheeze or asthma and IgE-mediated food allergy in childhood.
The association between each SCFA and allergic disease appeared to be different by disease and the age of assessment.
Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Systematic Review

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Meta-analysis identifying gut microbial biomarkers of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau populations and the functionality of microbiota-derived butyrate in high-altitude adaptation

Zhao H et al. • Gut microbes (2024)

Our research found universally applicable biomarkers and investigated their potential roles in promoting human health at high altitudes.

Functional analysis and qPCR revealed that butyrate may be a functional metabolite in high-altitude adaptation.
A high-altitude rat model showed that butyrate reduced intestinal damage caused by high altitudes.
According to cell experiments, butyrate may downregulate hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression and blunt cellular responses to hypoxic stress.

Meta-Analysisn=668

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Changes in Gut Microbiota and Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

Ordoñez-Rodriguez A et al. • International journal of environmental research and public health (2023)

Gut microbiota dysbiosis was found in multiple sclerosis patients compared to controls.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis was found in multiple sclerosis patients compared to controls.
Most of the altered bacteria are short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing, which could explain the chronic inflammation that characterises this disease.
Therefore, future studies should consider the characterisation and manipulation of the multiple sclerosis-associated microbiome as a focus of both diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Systematic Review

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Nutritional Interventions to Improve Cachexia Outcomes in Cancer-A Systematic Review

Braha A et al. • Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) (2022)

According to the GRADE methodology, no positive recommendation for these nutritional supplements may be expressed.

Background and Objectives: The prevalence of cachexia has increased across all of the cancer types and accounts for up to 20% of cancer-related deaths.
Conclusions: Although clinical trials relating to large numbers of nutritional supplements present promising data, many trials provided negative results.
Further studies investigating the underlying mechanisms of action of these nutritional supplements in cancer cachexia are needed.

Systematic Review

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Elucidation of Prebiotics, Probiotics, Postbiotics, and Target from Gut Microbiota to Alleviate Obesity via Network Pharmacology Study

Oh KK et al. • Cells (2022)

In this study, we demonstrated that the promising substate (prebiotics), microbe (probiotics), metabolite (postbiotics), and target are suitable for obsesity treatment, providing a microbiome basis for further research.

Then, we implemented protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks with 342 overlapping target, another subnetwork was constructed with the top 30% degree centrality (DC), and the final core networks were obtained after screening the top 30% betweenness centrality (BC).
The final core targets were IL6, AKT1, and ALB.
We showed that the three core targets interacted with three other components via the MSMT network in alleviating obesity, i.e., four microbiota, two substrates, and six metabolites.

Meta-Analysis

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Meta-Analysis of Altered Gut Microbiota Reveals Microbial and Metabolic Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer

Avuthu N et al. • Microbiology spectrum (2022)

In addition, we revealed significant microbe-metabolite associations through correlation analysis and microbial gene families associated with dysregulated metabolic pathways in CRC, which are essential in understanding the vastly sporadic nature of CRC development and progression.

Geographic dataset-specific markers were identified and evaluated using area under the ROC curve (AUC) scores and random effect size.
In this study, we performed a meta-analysis of CRC microbiota data from diverse geographical regions using multiple methods to achieve reproducible results.
We used a computational approach to predict the metabolomic profiles using existing CRC metagenomic datasets.

Meta-Analysis

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The Gut Microbiome, Aging, and Longevity: A Systematic Review

Badal VD et al. • Nutrients (2020)

Although a definitive interpretation is limited by the cross-sectional design of published reports, we integrated findings of microbial composition and downstream functional pathways and metabolites, offering possible explanations regarding age-related processes.

Beta diversity distances significantly differed across various developmental stages and were different even between oldest-old and younger-old adults.
Differences in taxonomic composition and functional potential varied across studies, but Akkermansia was most consistently reported to be relatively more abundant with aging, whereas Faecalibacterium, Bacteroidaceae, and Lachnospiraceae were relatively reduced.
Although a definitive interpretation is limited by the cross-sectional design of published reports, we integrated findings of microbial composition and downstream functional pathways and metabolites, offering possible explanations regarding age-related processes.

Systematic Review

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Impact of non-digestible carbohydrates and prebiotics on immunity, infections, inflammation and vaccine responses: a systematic review of evidence in healthy humans and a discussion of mechanistic proposals

Arioz Tunc H et al. • Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2026)

Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms involved and to optimize health applications.

A systematic review of human studies showed that prebiotics, including GOS, FOS, and 2'-fucosyllactose (2FL), reduced infections and increased IgA in healthy infants, while yeast β-glucan reduced respiratory infection symptoms in healthy adults.
Yeast β-glucan and GOS supplementation resulted in improvements in NK cell activity.
Some effects on vaccine efficacy were noted in young adults, but the overall impact of NDCs and prebiotics on vaccination and systemic inflammation was inconsistent.

Systematic ReviewAI-discovered

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Assessing Nutraceuticals for Hepatic Steatosis: A Standardized In Vitro Approach

Palasantzas VEJM et al. • Nutrients (2026)

Using this system, we found that SCFAs and AOXs did not consistently reduce intracellular triglycerides, highlighting the need for quantitative assessments and careful validation when studying anti-steatotic interventions in vitro.

Resmetirom was the only drug that significantly decreased triglycerides, while obeticholic acid, semaglutide, and the DGAT2 inhibitor showed minimal or inconsistent effects.
Fa2N-4 cells were generally more sensitive than HepG2 cells, showing larger absolute changes in triglyceride levels in response to both nutraceuticals and resmetirom.
Conclusions: We established a standardized in vitro assay to evaluate the anti-steatotic potential of nutraceuticals.

Systematic Reviewn=46AI-discovered

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Butyrate-Producing Bacteria as a Keystone Species of the Gut Microbiome: A Systemic Review of Dietary Impact on Gut-Brain and Host Health

Snodgrass JL et al. • International journal of molecular sciences (2026)

Therapeutic strategies that restore BPB populations and butyrate levels, such as prebiotics, dietary fiber, and microbiota-targeted interventions, hold promise for mitigating inflammation and enhancing systemic health through microbiome modulation.

Butyrate supports colonocyte energy metabolism, reinforces epithelial barrier function, regulates goblet cell mucus production, and exerts anti-inflammatory effects via histone deacetylase inhibition and G-protein-coupled receptor signaling.
The depletion of BPB and the resultant butyrate deficiency may represent a unifying pathophysiological mechanism underlying these conditions.
Therapeutic strategies that restore BPB populations and butyrate levels, such as prebiotics, dietary fiber, and microbiota-targeted interventions, hold promise for mitigating inflammation and enhancing systemic health through microbiome modulation.

Systematic ReviewAI-discovered

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Unveiling Butyrate as a Parkinson's Disease Therapy

Abreu AE et al. • Neuroscience bulletin (2026)

Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This review examines butyrate's origins, functions, and mechanisms in the gut, its impact on the gut-brain axis, and its relevance in both "brain-first" and "gut-first" PD models.
We also explore the effects of butyrate supplementation in animal models and human clinical studies, highlighting its promise as a therapeutic agent for PD.
The understanding of butyrate as a versatile metabolite may pave the way for innovative strategies to prevent or manage PD, stressing the need for integrated approaches targeting both the nervous and gastrointestinal systems.© 2025.

Systematic ReviewAI-discovered

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Microbial metabolites in the gut-brain axis: their impact on depression pathophysiology and treatment

Li Y et al. • Neuroscience (2026)

Notably, this review advances the field via an integrative cross-pathway perspective, a critical appraisal of evidence strength across animal/human studies, and translational implications.
Microbiome-modifying interventions (like probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary changes), are promising in animal models for correcting metabolite dysregulation and alleviating depressive symptoms.Copyright © 2025 International Brain Research Organization (IBRO).
Published by Elsevier Inc.

Systematic Reviewn=23AI-discovered

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