Volatile Fatty Acids are Produced Primarily from the Breakdown of Proteins

Question

Volatile fatty acids are produced primarily from the breakdown of proteins.

Accepted Answer

Volatile fatty acids are primarily produced from the breakdown of carbohydrates, not proteins. Specifically, they are the end products of anaerobic fermentation of sugars and other carbohydrates in the rumen of ruminant animals and in the hindgut of horses and other non-ruminant herbivores. Protein breakdown in these systems can also contribute to the production of some volatile fatty acids, but it is not the primary source.