Article Summary:
- A butyrate-rich diet and butyric acid supplements are common ways to increase the level of butyrate in the body.
- A butyric acid supplement is a suitable alternative for individuals unable to tolerate a high amount of fiber in their diet.
- Tesseract’s ProButyrate® and AuRx® are innovative butyric acid supplements with enhanced bioavailability and absorption.
The role of butyrate (also known as butyric acid) in gut health is significant because it contributes 60 – 70 percent of the energy required by the cells of the colon (colonocytes). Although butyrate is the least abundant short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by the bacteria in the large intestine, it is still the ‘energy powerhouse’ for colon cells, as well as providing several therapeutic benefits, including supporting your gastrointestinal and neurological health.*
But what happens when your body has a low level of this essential SCFA? A clinical study1 indicates that a low level of butyrate is associated with —
- Compromised integrity of the intestinal barrier: Butyrate helps maintain a defensive barrier to protect the intestinal mucosa from pathogens.* A low butyrate level can disrupt the gut microbiome balance, resulting in stomach upset and bloating, and a wide range of adverse health conditions.
- Compromised immune function: Because butyrate plays a vital role in the body’s adaptive immune response, a low level of butyrate can adversely impact the intestinal mucosa’s immune responses.*
- Impaired insulin sensitivity: Butyrate minimizes peripheral insulin resistance, thereby supporting proper cellular glucose uptake; conversely, a low butyrate level can impair insulin sensitivity, leading to a rise in blood glucose.*
- Behavioral irregularities: There is growing evidence2 of a correlation between the gut microbiome and human brain function via the ‘gut-brain axis’. Because a low butyrate level can adversely influence the intestinal microbiota, it can also adversely impact behaviors, including social communication.*
- Weight gain: With compromised insulin sensitivity and rising blood glucose levels, individuals with low butyrate levels can experience unhealthy weight gain.*
Although butyrate is endogenously produced in the body, several factors can contribute to a low level of butyrate, including:
- Potential damage to colonocytes
- Changes in the intestinal bacterial flora
- Accelerated intestinal passage or intestinal excretion
- Other pathological conditions
So, how to increase the level of butyrate in your body? Depleted levels of butyric acid in the body can be enhanced through a butyrate-rich diet, butyrate supplements, or both.
Diet Versus Supplements: How to Increase the Butyrate Level In Your Body
Bacteria in the gut microbiome ferment undigested fiber in the diet and produce SCFAs, including butyric acid. Including high-fiber foods, such as fruits and vegetables, dried legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and dairy products in your diet is a natural way to increase the level of butyrate in the body.
However, a butyrate-rich diet alone might not be sufficient to enhance a depleted butyric acid level in the body. Some individuals might find it difficult to consume and tolerate the amount of fiber needed to produce a desired level of butyrate. A suitable alternative under such conditions is a butyrate supplement.
The following table highlights the recommended amount of butyrate intake through diet and supplements and the challenges associated with each route
Butyrate-Rich Diet |
Butyrate Supplements | |
Recommended intake of fiber |
25 g per day |
150 – 300 mg per day |
Challenges |
Patient tolerance to the recommended amount of fiber required to produce the desired level of butyrate. |
Unpalatable taste and odor, and quick absorption of a butyrate supplement in the intestine. |
Most commercially available butyric acid supplements contain butyrate mineral salts that emit the distinctively foul smell of butyric acid on contact with the slightest amount of moisture. The distinctive odor and taste of butyrate pose a significant challenge to patient compliance. Furthermore, the quick absorption of butyric acid in the upper segment of the gastrointestinal tract hinders its efficacy.
So, how to best increase the level of butyrate? Several innovative approaches have been implemented that enhance the bioavailability and absorption of butyric acid supplements, including using nutrient delivery nanotechnology to encapsulate butyric acid molecules.
Nanoformulated Butyrate Supplements that Support Your Health*
ProButyrate®, an advanced butyric acid formulation developed by Tesseract Medical Research, utilizes the proprietary CyLoc® – DexKey® nutrient delivery nanotechnology that enables the unprecedented absorption of billions of butyric acid molecules. The CyLoc® technology encapsulates individual butyrate molecules in a dextrin carrier to ensure integrity and palatability. The accompanying DexKey® technology acts as a release agent to each CyLoc® molecule, deploying them at the desired point in the intestinal tract. The sustained release of the hypoallergenic formulation promotes a healthy gastrointestinal environment.*
Tesseract’s AuRx® is a gold-standard medical food, providing nutritional support to counter the gut-brain nutrient imbalance associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The palatable-tasting powder consists of a stabilized butyric acid complex that addresses the specific nutritional requirements of autistic children. The proprietary nutrient delivery technology enhances the absorption of butyrate, making it possible to promote positive behavioral changes in ASD children and support their neurological health.
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing bioavailability and absorption, and micro-dosing of multiple nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Visit our website for more information about how Tesseract’s supplements support your gastrointestinal and neurological. health*
Citations
1Richie JP Jr, Nichenametla S, Neidig W, et al. Eur J Nutr 2015 Mar;54(2):251-263. doi: 10.1007/s00394-014-0706-z. Epub 2014 May 5. PMID: 24791752.
2Sinha R, Sinha I, Calcagnotto A, et al. Eur J Clin Nutr 2018 Jan;72(1):105-111. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2017.132. Epub 2017 Aug 30. PMID: 28853742; PMCID: PMC6389332.
3Mischley LK, Vespignani MF, Finnell JS. J Altern Complement Med 2013 May;19(5):459-463. doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0673. Epub 2012 Dec 16. PMID: 23240940; PMCID: PMC3651682.