GC-MS · METABOLÓMICA
Functional metabolomics - Short-chain fatty acids
GC-MS quantification of short-chain fatty acids (butyrate, propionate, acetate) to assess the actual functional activity of the gut microbiota.
Request information- Quantifies butyrate, propionate and acetate
- High-specificity GC-MS analysis
- Functional interpretation alongside the microbiota profile
Description
Functional metabolomics assesses the short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) produced by the gut microbiota through the fermentation of dietary fibre. Unlike a taxonomic census, which describes which microorganisms are present, this analysis measures what the microbiota actually does: its metabolic output.
The main SCFA —butyrate, propionate and acetate— are the end product of the fermentative activity of the colon. Among them, butyrate is the primary energy source of the colonocyte and a direct support of intestinal barrier integrity.
From “who is there” to “what it does”
Taxonomic composition and metabolic function do not always coincide. A balanced SCFA profile reflects a functionally active microbiota; a decline may accompany functional dysbiosis even when the bacterial composition appears preserved. This is why the test provides the functional layer that completes the microbiota analysis.
Method
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
SCFA are quantified by GC-MS, the reference technique that separates and identifies each metabolite with high specificity and enables a reproducible measurement of their absolute and relative concentrations.
Sample
Collection and processing
Stool sample collected in a sterile container with the kit provided. Storage and shipping conditions are detailed in the instructions to preserve the stability of the metabolites until analysis.
Results
Integrated functional report
The report expresses the concentrations of butyrate, propionate and acetate and their relative proportion. Its interpretation reaches maximum value when read within an integrated panel (metagenomic NGS + functional biochemistry): the AI assistant Sophia correlates bacterial composition with metabolic output to guide clinical reading.
See the integrated profiles to combine this analysis with the microbiota metagenomics.
Clinical indications
Functional assessment of the gut
- Functional dysbiosis: reduced butyrate production with apparently preserved composition
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Suspected impairment of the intestinal barrier
Intervention follow-up
- Response to dietary intervention (fibre, prebiotics)
- Response to probiotic supplementation
- Longitudinal monitoring of the intestinal metabolic axis