Circulating short chain fatty acids are associated with depression severity and predict remission from major depressive disorder
Patients with MDD exhibited lower baseline levels of butyrate and propionate compared to healthy controls. Higher baseline butyrate levels were associated with a greater likelihood of remission at follow-up. These findings suggest that butyrate may play a role in depression recovery, emphasizing the need for future studies to explore the therapeutic potential of butyrate-enhancing interventions in depression treatment.
Authors
- Lukas Van Oudenhove (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6540-3113)
- Carmen Schiweck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4215-0448)
- Sharmili Edwin Thanarajah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3608-1474)
- Kristin Verbeke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5352-7565)
- Boushra Dalile (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1064-7214)
- Aicha Bouzouina
- Andreas Reif (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0992-634X)
- F. Erhardt
- Mareike Aichholzer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1291-3304)
- Carmen Uckermark
- Alice Balliet
- Helena Reinken
- Julius Freiling
Institutions
- Goethe University Frankfurt (DE)
- Allen Institute for Brain Science (US)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (DE)
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research (BE)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Brain Behavior & Immunity - Health
- Published
- 2025-07-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101070
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 6.99