Dietary fibre is plant material that cannot be digested by the human body. Dietary fibre helps the digestive system to move food through the intestines and push the waste material out of the body.

Gas formation varies between individuals and is influenced by the chemical structure of dietary fibres, capacity of the gut microbiota to metabolise them, further modified by gut pH and transit rate.

Recent research sheds light on how two of these fatty acids - propionate and butyrate - serve as molecular messengers connecting our diet, gut bacteria, and the intricate structure of our DNA.

Gut microbes break down dietary fibre into short-chain fatty acids that travel through the body, influencing various biological processes. While their general health benefits were known ...

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like propionate and butyrate are critical byproducts of dietary fiber digestion. These molecules do more than fuel the body—they directly influence gene expression and ...