Microbiota-Associated Metabolites as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Opportunities in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, are chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by periods of active disease and remission. Their pathogenesis is multifactorial and involves genetic predisposition, immune response, environmental factors, and alterations in gut microbiota composition and function. Growing evidence suggests that gut microbiota-associated metabolites not only reflect disease activity but also participate in regulating the immune response and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier. The most important groups of metabolites associated with inflammatory bowel diseases include short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, and tryptophan derivatives. Reduced fecal butyrate and acetate concentrations have been reported in inflammatory bowel diseases, although the diagnostic value of fecal short-chain fatty acids remains uncertain. Potential therapeutic approaches include short-chain fatty acid supplementation, particularly sodium butyrate, and dietary interventions aimed at increasing short-chain fatty acid concentrations; however, the clinical efficacy of short-chain fatty acid supplementation remains inconclusive, and evidence for dietary interventions is limited. In the future, the use of gut microbiota metabolites may be based on personalized strategies grounded in multiomic data, enabling precise modulation of the microbiota–metabolite–immune system axis.