Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
04:09
Sequential Blood Collection from Inferior Vena Cava Followed by Portal Vein to Evaluate Gut Microbial Metabolites in Mice
Published on: June 21, 2024
Circulating Short-Chain Fatty Acid Levels in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Devika Thakur1, Matthew J Harmer2,3
1Department of Paediatrics, St Helier Hospital, Wrythe Ln, Carshalton SM5 1AA, UK.
Nutrients
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients show reduced levels of acetate and propionate, indicating a compromised gut-kidney axis. Age influences butyrate levels, with children exhibiting higher concentrations than adults with CKD.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Gastroenterology
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) disrupts the gut-kidney axis, leading to intestinal dysbiosis.
- This dysbiosis is linked to uremic toxin accumulation and depletion of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
- Circulating SCFA concentrations in CKD patients across different stages and age groups are not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and quantify blood SCFA concentrations in CKD patients compared to healthy controls.
- To analyze SCFA levels based on CKD stage, age, and treatment modality.
- To investigate the role of SCFAs in the context of the gut-kidney axis in CKD.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for relevant clinical studies.
- Methodological quality assessment using the NIH tool.
- Quantitative meta-analysis using standardized mean differences (SMDs) with subgroup analyses for age, CKD stage, and treatment.
Main Results:
- Significant depletion of circulating acetate and propionate in adult CKD patients compared to controls (p < 0.05).
- SCFA depletion worsened with declining glomerular filtration rates.
- A 'butyrate paradox' was observed: children maintained or had elevated butyrate, unlike adults, especially with hypertension. Hemodialysis patients showed the most profound deficiencies, while transplantation partially restored levels.
Conclusions:
- CKD is associated with significant systemic reduction in acetate and propionate, supporting a compromised gut-kidney axis.
- Age-related factors or compensatory mechanisms influence butyrate metabolism in pediatric versus adult CKD populations.
- SCFA monitoring may serve as emerging biomarkers for early renal damage detection and risk stratification.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires collaborative and comprehensive management. CKD progresses through stages and can lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) if untreated. Interprofessional collaboration and patient education are crucial, enabling patients to manage their health and improve their quality of life.Diagnostic approach for chronic kidney diseaseThe diagnosis of CKD primarily focuses on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which assesses kidney function by measuring how well...
01:25Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) arises when the kidneys progressively lose their ability to function, ultimately leading to end-stage renal disease. At this advanced stage, the kidneys can no longer filter waste or maintain essential body functions, requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) through dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.Early-stage chronic kidney disease and detection challengesIn CKD's early stages, symptoms often remain absent because healthy nephrons compensate for...
01:24Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) progressively impairs multiple body systems due to the accumulation of uremic toxins, which disrupt cellular functions across various organs.Neurologic symptomsNeurologic symptoms often arise early in CKD, as uremic toxin buildup drives changes in cognitive and motor functions. Patients frequently experience fatigue, headache, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and, in severe cases, seizures. Peripheral neuropathy commonly manifests as burning sensations in the...
01:28Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate Based on Serum Creatinine Concentration
Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be estimated from serum creatinine using the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula or the chronic kidney disease–epidemiology collaboration (CKD–EPI) equation. Both methods are widely used in clinical practice to assess kidney function and guide treatment decisions.The MDRD equation does not require weight or height measurements and is normalized to the body surface area of 1.73 m², considered the average adult surface area. This equation is...
01:18Chronic Kidney Disease IV: Nursing Management
Nursing management is essential for preventing complications, maintaining stability, and improving patients' quality of life in chronic kidney disease (CKD). By using a structured approach, nurses help slow CKD progression and support effective patient care.1. Comprehensive patient assessmentEffective management begins with nurses reviewing the patient’s medical history, and identifying key risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, and nephrotoxic drug use. Nurses assess signs of fluid...
01:26Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug binding...