SCFAs are produced as the result of microbial fermentation in the gut, absorbed by coloncytes through active transport over the apical membrane. Some SCFAs are consumed by the colonocytes as an energy source while the remaining enter the bloodstream. Amounts produced in the gut are directly related to dietary fibre intake. Higher levels are associated with reduced risk for various diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes and intestinal cancer. Could well be the missing link in the gut/brain axis, which might exert effects on mental health and behaviour.