Nutrients (Mar 2022)

Biochemical and Metabolical Pathways Associated with Microbiota-Derived Butyrate in Colorectal Cancer and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Implications: A Narrative Review

  • Adelina Silvana Gheorghe,
  • Șerban Mircea Negru,
  • Mădălina Preda,
  • Raluca Ioana Mihăilă,
  • Isabela Anda Komporaly,
  • Elena Adriana Dumitrescu,
  • Cristian Virgil Lungulescu,
  • Lidia Anca Kajanto,
  • Bogdan Georgescu,
  • Emanuel Alin Radu,
  • Dana Lucia Stănculeanu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14061152
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 6
p. 1152

Abstract

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Knowledge regarding the influence of the microbial community in cancer promotion or protection has expanded even more through the study of bacterial metabolic products and how they can modulate cancer risk, which represents an extremely challenging approach for the relationship between intestinal microbiota and colorectal cancer (CRC). This review discusses research progress on the effect of bacterial dysbiosis from a metabolic point of view, particularly on the biochemical mechanisms of butyrate, one of the main short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties in CRC. Increased daily intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) significantly increases the density of bacteria that are known to produce butyrate. Omega-3 PUFAs have been proposed as a treatment to prevent gut microbiota dysregulation and lower the risk or progression of CRC.

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