About Butyric Acid Supplements

Updated on September 16, 2024

Are you considering including butyric acid supplements in your diet? Butyric acid has numerous health benefits, including promoting gastrointestinal and neurological health.* But when do you need a butyric acid supplement? What are the best butyric acid supplements? And are butyric acid supplements safe?

This article answers all these questions about this multi-functional molecule and why  taking an advanced butyric acid supplement may be beneficial. Use the links below to jump to specific topics about butyric acid and butyric acid supplements.

The Basics of Butyric Acid: An Overview

Butyric acid, or butyrate, is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced in the large intestine  when beneficial gut bacteria ferment dietary fiber. Butyric acid can also be consumed from plant oils, animal fats, and nutritional supplements. Butyric acid is a multi-functional molecule known for its distinctive strong odor and wide range of health benefits. 

Butyric acid’s health benefits are attributed to the following: 

• Epigenetic regulator: Epigenetic regulators are specific molecules that control the expression of certain genes. Butyric acid acts as an epigenetic regulator to inhibit DNA synthesis in cells exhibiting abnormal growth and regulates cell growth and division by inducing changes in gene expression¹.*
• Energy substrate: Butyric acid is the primary energy source for colon cells (colonocytes), contributing to 60-70 percent of their energy requirement².* 
• Transmembrane protein activator: Butyric acid activates several transmembrane proteins involved in multiple cell signaling pathways³.*

Why Might You Need A Butyric Acid Supplement?

Butyric acid naturally occurs in milk, hard cheese (such as parmesan), butter, cream, yogurt, fermented soy, pickled cucumber, and other foods. Additionally, plant products containing dietary fibers are a particularly good source of endogenous production of butyric acid through bacterial fermentation. A diet rich in legumes, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and dairy products helps your body maintain an optimal butyric acid level. 

So, why do you need a butyric acid supplement? You should consider adding a butyric acid supplement to your diet when: 

1. A fiber-rich diet does not suit you.  Certain gastrointestinal conditions make digesting a large amount of fiber uncomfortable or even painful. Other gastrointestinal conditions can make it challenging to increase butyrate levels through dietary fiber intake alone. In addition, many consuming a Western diet find it difficult, if not impossible, to eat an adequate amount of fiber on a daily basis.

2. The gut microbiome fails to produce the necessary amount of butyrate. Individuals who have certain gastrointestinal disorders may have low butyric acid levels because the inflamed gastrointestinal mucosa cannot absorb any butyrate that is produced. Other conditions where dysbiosis (negative alterations in populations of gut microbes) is present, decrease the formation of butyric acid(4). Even with the recommended dietary fiber intake, your intestines might not produce the required amount of butyrate. 

Under such conditions, a butyric acid supplement can be a suitable alternative (or addition) to a fiber-rich diet. 

Raw Butyric Acid versus Butyric Acid Supplements

Conventional butyrate supplementation is achieved through oral ingestion of butyrate mineral salts or through the use of a sodium butyrate enema. However, when sodium butyrate salt comes in contact with moisture, it emits a strong, distinctive, and foul odor, making it difficult to ingest orally. On the other hand, a sodium butyrate enema is less preferred over oral supplements because it must be injected rectally under medical supervision. 

When considering a butyric acid supplement, it is worth noting that not all oral supplements are formulated alike. The following table highlights the differences between the palatability and absorption of raw butyric acid and butyric acid supplements.  

Potential Benefits of Butyric Acid Supplements

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in the functioning of various organs. Researchers have found that butyric acid supplements can help enhance glutathione levels, which, in turn, can help limit oxidative damage to the gastrointestinal system and other organs⁵.* 

In addition to influencing intestinal health and oxidative stress, the gut microbiome has been linked to modulating cognition through the ‘gut-brain axis’, potentially regulating behavior, learning and memory⁶. 

The following table highlights how butyric acid supplementation can help promote gastrointestinal and neurological health. 

Future Explorations of Butyric Acid Benefits

The properties of butyric acid and its role in gastrointestinal and neurological health are well-established. In recent years, newer research is focusing on the previously unknown properties and health benefits of butyric acid. The following are some of the future explorations of butyric acid benefits:

• Butyric acid for weight management: The association between intestinal microflora and metabolic health has been recently established¹³. Butyrate exerts beneficial effects on cellular energy metabolism and intestinal homeostasis.* Low butyrate levels have been associated with several metabolic conditions, including blood glucose levels, insulin resistance, and weight gain¹⁴. Butyric acid supplementation has been found to promote healthy weight management¹⁵.*
• Butyric acid for heart health: Research studies show that butyric acid is absorbed into the portal vein, which can beneficially influence lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and other critical metabolic processes.* Imbalance in the gut microbiota has been recognized as one of the factors involved in developing adverse cardiovascular conditions¹⁶. Butyric acid supplementation may exert cardioprotective effects by stabilizing microbial composition in the gut¹⁷.*   
• Butyric acid for kidney health: Butyric acid exerts immunomodulatory effects and influences the activity of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and T-helper cells to help maintain normal inflammatory responses.* Research on its role as a potential immunoregulatory agent to address conditions arising from renal injury is ongoing¹⁸. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Butyric Acid Supplements

The following are frequently asked questions about butyric acid supplements: 

What is the recommended amount of butyric acid intake in supplement form?

The recommended amount of butyric acid in currently available nutritional supplements is 150-300 mg/ day¹⁹.   

Are butyric acid supplements safe?

The safety profile of butyric acid is well-established. No toxicity or adverse side effects have been reported, and butyric acid supplements are well-tolerated, even when ingested in high amounts. 

Can I take a butyric acid supplement with a prescription medicine? 

It is always advised to consult with your health-care provider before including a butyric acid supplement in your diet or taking it with a prescription medicine and/or other nutritional supplements as interactions may exist.

How do I determine the best butyric acid supplement to support my health? 

The key features of the best butyric acid supplement are: 

• Enhanced absorption: Targeted delivery of butyric acid molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract, which enables optimal absorption.
• Enhanced bioavailability: Optimal absorption translates to enhanced bioavailability of butyric acid molecules. 
• Enhanced palatability: Supplement formulations that successfully mask the unpalatable taste and odor of butyric acid result in better regimen compliance. 

ProButyrate® is an innovative butyric acid formulation developed by Tesseract Medical Research that enhances butyric acid’s absorption, bioavailability, and palatability. Tesseract’s proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology protects the integrity of the butyric acid molecules during transit through the stomach and enables their targeted delivery in the intestinal tract. The encapsulated butyrate molecules have enhanced palatability, making it easier to ingest orally. With improved bioavailability, ProButyrate® can help you realize the  health benefits of butyric acid.*  

Citations: 

¹Steliou K, et al. BioResearch Open Access vol. 1,4 (2012): 192-198. doi:10.1089/biores.2012.0223

²Donohoe DR, Garge N, Zhang X, et al. Cell Metab. 2011;13(5):517-526. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2011.02.018

³Peng K, et al. Frontiers in Endocrinology vol. 14 1098881. 24 Feb. 2023, doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1098881

⁴Amiri P, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology vol. 12 837509. 2 Feb. 2022, doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.837509

⁵Chen Z, et al. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology vol. 9 733308. 2 Nov. 2021, doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.733308

⁶Carabotti, Marilia et al. Annals of gastroenterology vol. 28,2 (2015): 203-209.

⁷Zhu, Li-Bin et al. World journal of clinical pediatrics vol. 10,5 84-92. 9 Sep. 2021, doi:10.5409/wjcp.v10.i5.84

⁸Canani, Roberto Berni et al. World journal of gastroenterology vol. 17,12 (2011): 1519-28. doi:10.3748/wjg.v17.i12.1519

⁹Zeissig S, Fromm A, Mankertz J, et al. Gastroenterology. 2007;132(1):236-248. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2006.10.033

¹⁰Böcker U, Nebe T, Herweck F, et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 2003;131(1):53-60. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02056.x

¹¹Sui SJ, Tian ZB, Wang QC, et al. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2018;22(14):4730-4738. doi:10.26355/eurrev_201807_15533

¹²Alpino GCÁ, Pereira-Sol GA, Dias MME, Aguiar AS, Peluzio MDCG. Beneficial effects of butyrate on brain functions: A view of epigenetic. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2024;64(12):3961-3970. doi:10.1080/10408398.2022.2137776

¹³Portincasa P, Bonfrate L, Vacca M, et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(3):1105. Published 2022 Jan 20. doi:10.3390/ijms23031105

¹⁴Brahe LK, Astrup A, Larsen LH. Obes Rev. 2013;14(12):950-959. doi:10.1111/obr.12068

 ¹⁵Peng K, et al. Frontiers in Endocrinology vol. 14 1098881. 24 Feb. 2023, doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1098881

¹⁶Amiri P, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology vol. 12 837509. 2 Feb. 2022, doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.837509

¹⁷Aguilar EC, Leonel AJ, Teixeira LG, et al. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2014;24(6):606-613. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2014.01.002

¹⁸Chen Z, et al. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology vol. 9 733308. 2 Nov. 2021, doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.733308
¹⁹Peng K, et al. Butyrate and obesity: Current research status and future prospect. Frontiers in Endocrinology vol. 14 1098881. 24 Feb. 2023, doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1098881