What does this research mean for the field?

Fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations and predicted SCFA pathways are not conclusively associated with depressive symptoms in non-clinical adults, although there is a weak, non-significant signal for lower acetate in individuals with high systolic blood pressure. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine whether fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations and microbial metabolic pathways are associated with depressive symptoms, and whether systolic blood pressure moderates these relationships.

August 22, 2026Translational PsychiatryOpen Access

Relationship between fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbial SCFA pathways with depressive symptoms in Dutch adults

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Authors

VKVera Korenblik TBThomaz F. S. Bastiaanssen IHIrina M. de Haas

Discussion

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Overview

Cohort study finds no conclusive link between fecal short-chain fatty acids and depressive symptoms in adults, suggesting metabolic factors like blood pressure may influence gut-brain signaling.

Key Points

To examine whether fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations and microbial metabolic pathways are associated with depressive symptoms, and whether systolic blood pressure moderates these relationships.
Analyzed 200 adults (<50 years old) from the HELIUS cohort in the Netherlands, matched on age, sex, and BMI across high and low systolic blood pressure groups.
Quantified fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations using high-performance liquid chromatography and inferred metabolic pathways from 16S rRNA gene sequencing mapped to gut-brain modules.
Evaluated depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and modeled associations using multivariable negative binomial regression adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates.
In the high systolic blood pressure group, higher depressive symptom severity was initially associated with lower acetate concentrations, but this did not remain statistically significant after multiple-testing correction (IRR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.69–0.96], p = 0.016, p-adjusted = 0.063).
No significant associations were observed between depressive symptoms and other fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations, ratios, or predicted microbial synthesis and degradation pathways in either blood pressure group.

Cite This Study

Korenblik et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895ec3ca7ade938187ce2a https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04296-9

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August 22, 2026Translational PsychiatryOpen Access

Relationship between fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbial SCFA pathways with depressive symptoms in Dutch adults

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

VKVera Korenblik TBThomaz F. S. Bastiaanssen IHIrina M. de Haas

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Cohort study finds no conclusive link between fecal short-chain fatty acids and depressive symptoms in adults, suggesting metabolic factors like blood pressure may influence gut-brain signaling.

Key Points

To examine whether fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations and microbial metabolic pathways are associated with depressive symptoms, and whether systolic blood pressure moderates these relationships.
Analyzed 200 adults (<50 years old) from the HELIUS cohort in the Netherlands, matched on age, sex, and BMI across high and low systolic blood pressure groups.
Quantified fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations using high-performance liquid chromatography and inferred metabolic pathways from 16S rRNA gene sequencing mapped to gut-brain modules.
Evaluated depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and modeled associations using multivariable negative binomial regression adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates.
In the high systolic blood pressure group, higher depressive symptom severity was initially associated with lower acetate concentrations, but this did not remain statistically significant after multiple-testing correction (IRR = 0.82, 95% CI [0.69–0.96], p = 0.016, p-adjusted = 0.063).
No significant associations were observed between depressive symptoms and other fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations, ratios, or predicted microbial synthesis and degradation pathways in either blood pressure group.

Cite This Study

Korenblik et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895ec3ca7ade938187ce2a https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04296-9

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