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Review
. 2021 Jan 11:12:580001.
doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.580001. eCollection 2020.

Propionate and Alzheimer's Disease

Jessica Killingsworth  1 , Darrell Sawmiller  1 , R Douglas Shytle  1
Affiliations
Review

Propionate and Alzheimer's Disease

Jessica Killingsworth et al. Front Aging Neurosci. .

Abstract

Propionate, a short-chain fatty acid, serves important roles in the human body. However, our review of the current literature suggests that under certain conditions, excess levels of propionate may play a role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The cause of the excessive levels of propionate may be related to the Bacteroidetes phylum, which are the primary producers of propionate in the human gut. Studies have shown that the relative abundance of the Bacteroidetes phylum is significantly increased in older adults. Other studies have shown that levels of the Bacteroidetes phylum are increased in persons with AD. Studies on the diet, medication use, and propionate metabolism offer additional potential causes. There are many different mechanisms by which excess levels of propionate may lead to AD, such as hyperammonemia. These mechanisms offer potential points for intervention.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; gut microbiome; propionate; short chain fatty acids; valproate.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Propionic acid (left) and valproic acid (right).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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