[ Short-chain fatty acid, SCFA, volatile fatty acid, VFA ]
Fatty acids with aliphatic tails of less than 6 carbon atoms.
SCFAs do not require bile salts for digestion, passing directly from the from the gastrointestinal track to the portal system and can cross the blood-brain barrier via monocarboxylate transporters.
The predominant SCFAs are acetic acid, butyric acid, formic acid, isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid, propionic acid and valeric acid.
SCFAs are produced when dietary fibre is fermented in the colon.