Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), also referred to as volatile fatty acids, are organic fatty acids characterized by carbon chains that vary in length from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. They primarily encompass acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, isovaleric acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid, among others.

Approximately 90% of SCFAs originate in the colon through the fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates by bacteria, while the remainder is produced through dietary intake and protein metabolism. In a healthy human gut, SCFAs are generated at a daily rate of around 50-100 mmol. With our own short chain fatty acid database, MetwareBio offers absolute quantification of 11 molecules in a single run.