What Is Butyrate?
Butyrate, also known as butanoic acid or butyric acid, is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) that is produced in the intestinal tract by microbial fermentation of undigested dietary carbohydrates—in other words, it comes from the gut as the gut breaks down fiber. It exerts beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health by serving as the primary energy source of colonocytes and influencing the gut-brain axis. As the primary metabolic regulator for the energy used in those cells, butyrate has beneficial effects for other body functions both inside and outside the intestinal tract.* In fact, emerging studies have highlighted its impact on various other functions in the body, making it a supplement of significant interest among healthcare practitioners, patients, researchers, and consumers.
Here’s what you need to know about this remarkably versatile nutrient for promoting gut health and beyond.
Interesting Quick Facts About Butyric Acid:
- Butyric acid, along with acetic acid (found in vinegar) and propionic acid, make up 90-95 percent of the SCFAs in the human gut.
- Although it is the least abundant the SCFAs produced, butyrate is the main energy source for our colon cells (colonocytes), contributing up to 60-70 percent of their energy requirements.
How A Butyrate Supplement Benefits Your Gut and Overall Health
Butyrate provides beneficial effects for several distinct bodily systems. A growing number of studies have revealed new results and nutritional support benefits of butyrate on a wide range of health functions. The table below lists several examples in which butyrate plays an important role in benefiting not just the gastrointestinal environment, but also overall health and wellness.
Beneficial Effects of Butyrate |
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Metabolic Regulation |
Butyrate stimulates the colon to absorb sodium chloride (NaCl), which helps prevent dehydration.* |
Cell Regulation |
Butyrate regulates the cell cycle (growth and division) by inducing beneficial changes in gene expression associated with multiple signaling pathways.* |
Intestinal-Barrier Support |
Butyrate stimulates the MUC2 gene to produce mucin — the glycoproteins (mucus) produced by colonocytes that act as a protective internal coating.* |
Oxidative Stress |
Studies1 show that butyrate down-regulates oxidative stress in the colonic mucosa — the glands and connective tissue that cover the inside of the colon.* |
Immune Regulation |
Butyrate can influence immune responses in intestinal mucosa by up-regulating the migration of beneficial immune cells, their adhesion, and their cellular functions.* |
Intestinal Motility |
Butyrate can enhance colonic motility — the peristaltic motion of the intestine that keeps you “regular.”* |
Beyond the gastrointestinal environment, butyrate has been found to display a wide range of benefits, like maintaining equilibrium through the gut-brain axis, which highlights its potential for addressing various health-related issues.*
Tips for A Diet Rich in Butyrate
“Eat More Roughage”: Incorporate Fiber-Rich Foods
You’ve probably heard that including fiber (“roughage”) in your diet helps with digestion, bowel regularity, and weight management. It’s true – the presence of undigested dietary fiber in the intestines is closely associated with the gut’s production of butyrate. Continue reading to learn how.
How Does Dietary Fiber Promote Digestion?
Dietary fiber refers to edible plant parts that are resistant to digestion or absorption in the small intestine.
These digestion-resistant dietary carbohydrates are made up of:
- Non-starch polysaccharides
- Non-digestible oligosaccharides
- Resistant starch
These carbohydrates are fermented into SCFAs by bacteria in the large intestine. Any remaining dietary fiber not broken down by bacteria travels intact to the colon and adds bulk and weight to stool, making it easier to pass.
A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of butyrate-rich food sources supports the intestinal ecosystem. The following table highlights several food sources that can add fiber to the diet and enhance butyrate production in the gut.
Building a Butyrate-Rich Diet |
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The American Heart Association and Academey of Nutrition and Dietetics recommend 38 grams of dietary fiber daily for men and 25 grams daily for women.
Butyrate Supplements: An Alternative to Fiber-Rich Diets?
While a fiber-rich diet is generally recommended for its numerous helath benefits, there are specific considerations where high fiber intake may not be advisable. In such situations, particularly for individuals expereiencing GI discomfort or issues with gut motility, butyrate supplementation may be beneficial for the following reasons:
- Support for Gut Health: Butyrate can support a healthy inflammatory response in the gut and support the reapir of the gut lining to help soothe discomfort in cases where gut health may be compromised.*
- Improved Gastrointestinal Function: Butyrate may assitst in encouraging healthy gut motiliy and overall digestive function.*
- Gradual Introduction for Sensitivity: For those who may experience sensitivity to changes in their diet or supplementation, inclduing fiber or other gut-supportive compounds, butyrate may offer a gentle way to support proper digestive function.*
In each case, butyrate supplemetation could be a beneficial option for providing comprehensive gut health support. Hether it’s oral ingestion of butyrate mineral salts or sodium butyrate enemas, it is important to tailor its use based on individual tolerance and specific health needs.
Butyrate Supplements are Preferable to Raw Butyric Acid
Although research studies are inconclusive about the optimal intake of butyrate supplementation, 150-300 mg/day is usually the suggested amount of butyrate to supplement.
When considering an oral butyrate supplement, a question to ask is whether it will really work. Several animal studies have established the beneficial effects of butyrate supplementation in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome.
Even in significantly high amounts, clinical evidence indicates good tolerance of oral butyrate with no adverse reactions or side effects2. The following table indicates how a butyrate supplement can benefit you compared to the oral intake of raw butyric acid.
Comparison: Raw Butyric Acid versus Butyrate Supplement |
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Raw Butyric Acid |
Butyrate Supplement |
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Palatability |
Raw butyric acid has a highly pungent odor and acrid taste, making it difficult to tolerate. |
Advanced supplement formulations make butyrate more palatable, resulting in excellent patient compliance. |
Absorption |
Raw butyric acid is quickly absorbed in the upper part of the GI tract, which reduces its beneficial effects lower down in the colon. (Ineffective delivery.) |
Encapsulated butyrate supplements have the capability to address the utility limitation of raw butyric acid if they are properly designed and formulated to enhance both absorption and release timing. (Target acquired.) |
These significant butyrate supplement benefits make this short-chain fatty acid a reality for maintaining optimal gut health.*
Selecting An Advanced Butyrate Supplement
Determining the right butyrate supplement can be challenging while analyzing the various products available on the market. The efficacy of a butyrate supplement depends on the following:
- Bioavailability: Not all butyrate supplements are formulated alike. It is essential to select a supplement formulated to optimize both bioavailability and localized absorption in the required areas of the gut.
- Palatability: The palatability of a butyrate supplement is equally critical for masking its unpleasant taste and odor and making it tolerable for oral intake.
ProButyrate® — a hypoallergenic butyrate formulation developed by Tesseract Medical Research, uses the revolutionary CyLoc® – DexKey® delivery system to enhance the bioavailability and palatability of butyrate molecules.
What is the CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery system?
Tesseract’s proprietary nutrient delivery technology enables the delivery of butyrate molecules through the gastrointestinal tract — one palatable molecule at a time. CyLoc® technology encases each butyrate molecule and creates nano-sized particles, thereby masking butyrate’s unpalatable taste and smell and protecting each molecule from breaking down during transit through the stomach. Tesseract’s DexKey® technology accompanies each CyLoc® molecule and releases the molecule at the desired point in the intestinal tract for maximum absorption and effectiveness.
This unprecedented absorption of butyrate molecules in the gastrointestinal tract enables micro-dosing — the ability to use a lower amount of the active ingredient in the ProButyrate® formulation to achieve and help maintain a healthy inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal tract.* With ProButyrate®, you can take control of your gut health and introduce butyrate supplementation in your diet with ease.*
Tesseract Medical Research is committed to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). We utilize the most appropriate and scientifically advanced analytical techniques, along with a well-designed quality control system, to develop the finest quality nutritional supplements.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing solubility, absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they support your gastrointestinal health.*
References:
1Hamer HM, Jonkers DM, Bast A, et al. Clinical Nutrition 2009 Feb;28(1):88-93. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2008.11.002. Epub 2008 Dec 23. PMID: 19108937.
2Banasiewicz T, Domagalska D, Borycka-Kiciak K, Rydzewska G. Prz Gastroenterology 2020;15(2):119-125. doi: 10.5114/pg.2020.95556. Epub 2020 Jun 8. PMID: 32550943; PMCID: PMC7294979.