Short-Chain Fatty Acid Supplementation After Traumatic Brain Injury Attenuates Neurologic Injury Via the Gut-Brain-Microglia Axis

We hypothesized that SCFA supplementation would attenuate neurologic injury after TBI in mice. SCFA supplementation attenuated neurocognitive deficits, reduced cortical volume loss, preserved white matter connectivity, and decreased neuroinflammation. These benefits may result from the direct replacement of SCFAs. However, there may also be secondary mechanisms related to commensal refeeding of butyrate-producing bacteria within the gut microbial community, a neuroprotective heat-shock response, and a decrease in the expression of genes associated with neurodegeneration. The current study highlights the role of SCFAs in microbiome homeostasis and the potential of dietary intervention as a novel therapy in TBI.