FIGURE 1.

Relationship between SCFAs and lipid metabolism in animals. The contents of acetate, propionate and butyrSate in SCFAs were the highest (≥95%). Acetate inhibits chylomicron secretion by enterocytes but promotes lipid oxidation by a mechanism involving acetate absorption by enterocytes, its metabolism to acetyl‐CoA and AMP and the subsequent up‐regulation of the AMPK/PGC‐1α/PPARα pathway. Propionate and butyrate might improve glucose and energy homeostasis by inducing intestinal gluconeogenesis and sympathetic nerve activity. Moreover, acetate and butyrate might directly increase hepatic AMPK phosphorylation and activity via an increase in the ratio of AMP to ATP and the up‐regulation of PPARα target genes, thereby increasing fatty acid oxidation and glycogen storage. AMP, adenosine monophosphate; AMPK, adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase; PGC‐1α, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator‐1α; PPARα, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α; ATP, adenosine triphosphate.