Physiological review demonstrates that short-chain fatty acids modulate gastric and ileal motility in humans and animal models, indicating widespread neural and humoral regulation.
Key Points
To evaluate the physiological effects and underlying regulatory mechanisms of colonic short-chain fatty acids on regional gastrointestinal motility.
Reviewed experimental evidence on regional motility responses to short-chain fatty acids, including caecal infusion and colonic lactulose fermentation in human and animal models.
Assessed motor actions and response variations across the proximal stomach, terminal ileum, and colon.
Caecal infusion of short-chain fatty acids and colonic fermentation of lactulose induced proximal stomach relaxation, mediating the ileocolonic brake mechanism that slows gastric emptying.
Elevated short-chain fatty acid concentrations in the terminal ileum stimulated muscular contractions and accelerated ileal emptying, protecting the mucosa against colonic reflux.
Colonic motility responses varied based on fatty acid concentration, molecular structure, regional sensitivity, and species, acting via systemic humoral, neural, and myogenic pathways.