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Updated: Jan 13, 2026
13:35
Structural Biology and Analytical Chemistry Approaches for Characterizing C-Glycoside Metabolic Enzymes in Human Gut Microbiota
Published on: May 23, 2025
920
Microbial Transformation of Dietary Glycerol Contributes to Intestinal Acrolein Formation and Urinary Excretion
Clarissa Schwab1, Hanna Lang2, Simone Stegmüller2
1Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
|October 29, 2025
Summary
Gut microbes can produce acrolein, a harmful aldehyde linked to diseases, from dietary glycerol. This study found that gut bacteria transform glycerol into acrolein, with levels detectable in urine.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Human Physiology
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Acrolein, an aldehyde, is linked to various chronic diseases.
- Gut microbiota can produce acrolein from glycerol using glycerol/diol dehydratase (PduCDE).
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the contribution of gut microbiota to endogenous acrolein production.
- To investigate the intestinal acrolein-producing potential in humans.
Main Methods:
- Fecal metagenomics and pduC gene analysis were used to assess microbial potential.
- Urine biomarkers (3-HPMA and CEMA) were measured after glycerol consumption.
- Fecal microbiota composition and fermentation metabolites were analyzed.
Main Results:
- All volunteers possessed the potential for glycerol transformation to acrolein by gut microbiota, with Anaerobutyricum being a major contributor.
- Urinary levels of acrolein metabolites (3-HPMA, CEMA) increased after high-glycerol meals.
- Individuals could be classified into distinct urinary biomarker phenotypes linked to their gut microbiome.
Conclusions:
- Dietary glycerol intake can temporarily increase endogenous acrolein formation via gut microbiota activity.
- Urinary acrolein metabolites serve as indicators of intestinal microbiome activity and glycerol transformation.
- Gut microbiota plays a significant role in endogenous acrolein metabolism.
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