The effect of short-chain fatty acids on glycemic control in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background:
Non-communicable disease development is related to impairments in glycaemic and insulinemic response, which can be modulated by fiber intake. Fiber's beneficial effect upon metabolic health can be partially attributed to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) via microbial fermentation of fiber in the gastrointestinal tract.
Objective:
We aimed to determine the effect of the SCFAs, acetate, propionate, and butyrate on glycemic control in humans.
Methods:
CENTRAL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to the 07/12/2021. Papers were included if they reported a randomized, controlled trial measuring glucose and/or insulin compared to a placebo in adults. Studies were categorized by the type of SCFA and intervention duration. Random effects meta-analyses were performed for glucose and insulin for those subject categories with ≥3 studies, or a narrative review was performed.
Results:
We identified 43 eligible papers, with 46 studies within those records (n = 913), 44 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Vinegar intake decreased acute glucose response, standard mean difference (SMD) and (95% CI) –0.53 (–0.92, –0.14) (n = 67) in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes and in healthy (SMD) –0.27 (–0.54, 0.00) (n = 186). The meta-analyses for acute acetate as well as acute and chronic propionate studies had no significant effect.
Conclusions:
Vinegar decreased glucose response acutely in healthy and non-healthy. Acetate, propionate, butyrate, and mixed SCFAs had no effect on blood glucose and insulin in humans. Significant heterogeneity, risk of bias, and publication bias were identified in several study categories, including acute vinegar glucose response. As evidence was very uncertain, caution is urged when interpreting these results. Further high-quality research is required to determine the effect of SCFAs on glycemic control.
Non-communicable disease development is related to impairments in glycaemic and insulinemic response, which can be modulated by fiber intake. Fiber's beneficial effect upon metabolic health can be partially attributed to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) via microbial fermentation of fiber in the gastrointestinal tract.
Objective:
We aimed to determine the effect of the SCFAs, acetate, propionate, and butyrate on glycemic control in humans.
Methods:
CENTRAL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to the 07/12/2021. Papers were included if they reported a randomized, controlled trial measuring glucose and/or insulin compared to a placebo in adults. Studies were categorized by the type of SCFA and intervention duration. Random effects meta-analyses were performed for glucose and insulin for those subject categories with ≥3 studies, or a narrative review was performed.
Results:
We identified 43 eligible papers, with 46 studies within those records (n = 913), 44 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Vinegar intake decreased acute glucose response, standard mean difference (SMD) and (95% CI) –0.53 (–0.92, –0.14) (n = 67) in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes and in healthy (SMD) –0.27 (–0.54, 0.00) (n = 186). The meta-analyses for acute acetate as well as acute and chronic propionate studies had no significant effect.
Conclusions:
Vinegar decreased glucose response acutely in healthy and non-healthy. Acetate, propionate, butyrate, and mixed SCFAs had no effect on blood glucose and insulin in humans. Significant heterogeneity, risk of bias, and publication bias were identified in several study categories, including acute vinegar glucose response. As evidence was very uncertain, caution is urged when interpreting these results. Further high-quality research is required to determine the effect of SCFAs on glycemic control.
Date Issued
2022-04-07
Date Acceptance
2022-03-21
Citation
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2022, 116
ISSN
0002-9165
Publisher
American Society for Nutrition
Journal / Book Title
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume
116
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition. This is an Open Access
article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/116/2/335/6564594
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Nutrition & Dietetics
short-chain fatty acids
acetate
propionate
butyrate
glycemic control
systematic review
meta-analysis
insulin
CHAIN FATTY-ACIDS
GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE-1
GASTRIC-EMPTYING RATE
INSULIN-RESISTANCE
SKELETAL-MUSCLE
HEALTHY-SUBJECTS
BLOOD-GLUCOSE
ACETIC-ACID
VINEGAR CONSUMPTION
PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS
acetate
butyrate
glycemic control
insulin
meta-analysis
propionate
short-chain fatty acids
systematic review
Acetic Acid
Adult
Blood Glucose
Butyrates
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Glucose
Glycemic Control
Humans
Insulin
Propionates
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Humans
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Acetic Acid
Butyrates
Propionates
Insulin
Glucose
Blood Glucose
Adult
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Glycemic Control
Nutrition & Dietetics
09 Engineering
11 Medical and Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published online
Date Publish Online
2022-04-07