Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40801563›Full record

ReviewCells2025

Rethinking Short-Chain Fatty Acids: A Closer Look at Propionate in Inflammation, Metabolism, and Mucosal Homeostasis.

Sonia Facchin, Matteo Calgaro, Edoardo V Savarino

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cells, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 30 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
30citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

30 citing papers in PubMed.

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  9. Epithelial-Dermal Immune Memory: TrackingInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Sonia FacchinDepartment of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DISCOG), University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6774-590X
Matteo CalgaroDepartment of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3056-518X
Edoardo V SavarinoDepartment of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DISCOG), University Hospital of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3187-2894

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Propionate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by gut microbiota through the fermentation of dietary fibers. Among the SCFAs, butyrate stands out and has been extensively studied for its beneficial effects; however, propionate has received less attention despite its relevant roles in immune modulation, metabolism, and mucosal homeostasis. This narrative review focuses on propionate's effects on metabolism, inflammation, microbiota, and gastrointestinal diseases. Propionate acts as a signalling molecule through FFAR2/FFAR3 receptors and modulates immunity, energy metabolism, and gut-brain communication. It has beneficial effects in metabolic disorders, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). However, excessive accumulation is linked to neurotoxicity, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and mitochondrial dysfunction. Its effects are dose-dependent and tissue-specific, with both protective and harmful potentials depending on the context. Propionate use requires a personalized approach, considering the pathological context, host microbiota composition, and appropriate dosage to avoid adverse effects.

Indexed as

Fatty Acids, VolatileHomeostasisInflammationPropionatesAnimalsGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansFatty Acids, VolatilePropionatesIBDIBSmetabolitesmicrobiotashort-chain fatty acids

Identifiers

PMID40801563
PMCPMC12346497

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.