Butyrate Capsules: Uses, Benefits, and More

Article Summary:

• A butyrate nutritional supplement is a better alternative to butyrate mineral salts or sodium butyrate enema.
• The beneficial health-promoting effects of butyrate supplements help maintain intestinal homeostasis and energy metabolism.*
• Tesseract Medical Research’s revolutionary CyLoc® – DexKey® nanotechnology enables optimal absorption of butyric acid to promote good gastrointestinal health.*

Butyric acid (or butyrate) is a short-chain fatty acid that exerts beneficial health-promoting effects on the gastrointestinal tract.* Butyric acid is produced when the beneficial bacteria in the gut breaks down and ferments dietary fiber, and subsequently becomes a major energy source for colon cells (colonocytes). A fiber-rich healthy diet helps maintain the normal production of butyric acid in the gut. However, you might need butyrate supplementation under conditions involving —

• Increased metabolic demand of colonocytes due to intestinal damage or inflammation
• Increased energy expenditure due to gastrointestinal pathologies
• Intestinal stress with an accelerated intestinal passage and increased intestinal excretion
• Disruption in the balance of intestinal flora

Traditionally, butyrate supplementation has been administered through sodium butyrate enemas or the oral intake of butyrate mineral salts. Although oral intake of butyrate is preferred over rectal administration, the distinct unpleasant taste and odor can make it challenging to consume. Encapsulated butyrate, delivered in the form of capsules containing butyrate mineral salts, offers a more palatable and bioavailable alternative, improving the absorption and effectiveness of supplementation.

Below, we discuss some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about encapsulated butyrate capsules, their uses and benefits, and why you should include an advanced butyrate supplement formulation to support your gut health.*    

Frequently Asked Questions About Butyrate Capsules

Chemically, because butyric acid is free and volatile, it is made into the relatively stable form of sodium butyrate as a nutritional supplement. An encapsulated butyrate capsule typically contains a maximum of 300 mg of butyrate, with encapsulation techniques enabling the slow and targeted release of the active ingredient. The following are some common queries about encapsulated butyrate supplements.  

What Are the Uses of Encapsulated Butyrate Supplements?

Butyrate supplementation helps maintain intestinal homeostasis and energy metabolism.* An encapsulated butyrate supplement is commonly used for:

• Alleviating gastrointestinal dysfunction: Butyrate supplements enhance natural healing and regeneration processes in the intestinal epithelium affected by gastrointestinal disorders related to digestion and fermentation.* 

• Addressing infrequent or difficult bowel movements: Butyrate supplementation combined with probiotics supports normal intestinal motility.* 

• Countering dehydration associated with loose, watery, and too frequent bowel movements: Butyrate supplements increase the passive absorption of water and sodium chloride in the colon to limit dehydration caused by loose bowel movements.   

Is It Safe to Take a Butyrate Capsule Daily?

The recommended amount of butyrate intake is 150-300 mg, which ranges between 1.5-3% and 15-30% of the reported daily demand. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies butyric acid as generally considered safe (GRAS). Butyrate is a safe and well-tolerated supplement with no toxicity and minimal adverse effects reported, even in amounts significantly higher than recommended.    

How Do You Benefit from the Daily Intake of a Butyrate Supplement? 

Butyrate helps maintain a normal inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal tract to counter oxidative stress.* The short-chain fatty acid also exerts immuno-modulatory effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa.* The following table highlights some benefits associated with regular intake of a butyrate capsules. 

Can I Take a Butyrate Supplement with Prescription Medications?

The safety profile of butyrate supplements is well-established. However, it is always recommended to consult with your healthcare provider before including a butyrate supplement in your diet or taking one with prescription medications. 

Why Should I Take an Advanced Butyrate Supplement Formulation?

Natural, ‘non-enveloped’ butyrate is primarily absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. As a result, most butyrate fails to reach the large intestine, including the colon, where it exerts its beneficial functions. Advanced butyrate supplement formulations contain butyrate glycerides and butyrate salts, as well as different encapsulation techniques to target its absorption in the lower intestinal tract. 

A Palatable Butyrate Capsule for Optimal Bioavailability and Absorption

ProButyrate® is an innovative butyrate capsule developed by Tesseract Medical Research that enhances the bioavailability and absorption of butyrate. The proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology maintains the integrity of the butyrate molecules during transit through the stomach, mask their unpleasant taste and odor, and ensure their targeted delivery at the desired spot in the intestinal tract. The result is a palatable butyrate supplementation that achieves maximum absorption to help stabilize the gut microbiome and support a healthy inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal tract.*

Citation:

¹Guo W, et al. Butyrate alleviates oxidative stress by regulating NRF2 nuclear accumulation and H3K9/14 acetylation via GPR109A in bovine mammary epithelial cells and mammary glands. Free Radical Biology & Medicine vol. 152 (2020): 728-742. doi:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.01.016

²Donohoe DR, et al. The microbiome and butyrate regulate energy metabolism and autophagy in the mammalian colon. Cell Metabolism vol. 13,5 (2011): 517-526. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2011.02.018