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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Nutr Biochem. 2018 Apr 19;61:1–16. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2018.04.004

Figure 1. Representation of the bidirectional communication between the gut-microbiota-brain axis.

Figure 1

Signaling can occur directly via the vagus nerve, through signaling molecules such as GABA (γ-Aminobutyric acid), serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and antiinflammatory cytokines. Conversely, signaling can occur indirectly, through chemical messengers that are released into the periphery and act in an endocrine manner including GABA, 5-HT, produced by enterochromaffin cells (ECC) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA), such as butyrate and propionate, produced through bacterial fermentation of nondigestible fiber.