The Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Abdominal Adipose Tissue: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Obesity-related metabolic disease is strongly influenced by abdominal fat distribution, with visceral adipose tissue (VAT) conferring greater cardiometabolic risk than subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by colonic fermentation of dietary fibre, may influence adipose tissue biology, but their depot-specific effects remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exogenous SCFA supplementation on VAT and SAT, as well as associated metabolic outcomes. A systematic review of seven databases to April 2025 identified controlled mammalian animal and human intervention studies administering acetate, propionate or butyrate and reporting adiposity, glycaemic, lipid or inflammatory outcomes. Forty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. In animal models, SCFA supplementation significantly reduced body weight (mean difference = −5.42 g, p = 0.0001), visceral fat mass (−0.73 g, p = 0.0007), visceral adipocyte size (−916.7 µm², p < 0.0001), fasting glucose (−1.07 mmol/L, p = 0.0003), insulin (−6.53 pmol/L, p = 0.03), triacylglycerol (−0.39 mmol/L, p = 0.0004) and interleukin-6 (−13.24 pg/mL, p = 0.002) without affecting food intake. These effects were strongest for butyrate and acetate and were more pronounced in VAT than in SAT. Human trials were short and underpowered, showing no statistically significant effects but trends toward reduced triglycerides and fasting insulin and increased energy expenditure. Overall, SCFAs appear to selectively improve visceral adiposity and metabolic health in animal models, supporting further long-term human studies with depot-specific measures.