articleInternational Journal of Molecular SciencesJan 28, 2026GOLD OA

Butyrate-Producing Bacteria as a Keystone Species of the Gut Microbiome: A Systemic Review of Dietary Impact on Gut–Brain and Host Health

JDJ. D. SnodgrassBVB.T. Velayudhan

James Madison University

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefpubmed

Abstract

The human gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem integral to host health, with butyrate-producing bacteria (BPB) playing a critical role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. This scoping review explores the composition, function, and systemic influence of BPB, focusing on their metabolic product, butyrate, and its implications for gut integrity, immune modulation, and gut-brain axis (GBA) communication. Disruptions to BPB abundance, which is correlated with Western dietary patterns, food additives, and antibiotic exposure, are linked to gut dysbiosis and associated with a wide spectrum of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and…

Citation impact

7
total citations
FWCI
63.92
Percentile
100%
References
48
Too recent for citation history.

Authors

2

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Butyrate
  • Microbiome
  • Dysbiosis
  • Immune system
  • Gut flora
  • Histone deacetylase
  • Mucus
  • Bacteria
No related works found for this paper.

Funding