US EPA

1454972 

Journal Article 

The epigenetic effects of butyrate: potential therapeutic implications for clinical practice 

Berni Canani, R; Di Costanzo, M; Leone, L 

2012 

Yes 

Clinical Epigenetics
ISSN: 1868-7075 

4 

1 

4 

English 

22414433 

10.1186/1868-7083-4-4 

WOS:000208830900004 

Butyrate is a short chain fatty acid derived from the microbial fermentation of dietary fibers in the colon. In the last decade, multiple beneficial effects of butyrate at intestinal and extraintestinal level have been demonstrated. The mechanisms of action of butyrate are different and many of these involve an epigenetic regulation of gene expression through the inhibition of histone deacetylase. There is a growing interest in butyrate because its impact on epigenetic mechanisms will lead to more specific and efficacious therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of different diseases ranging from genetic/metabolic conditions to neurological degenerative disorders. This review is focused on recent data regarding the epigenetic effects of butyrate with potential clinical implications in human medicine. 

epigenome; histone deacetylase inhibitor; short chain fatty acids