Oct. 21, 2024
Fight aging! Restore your gut health!
With competitive price and timely delivery, Yufeng sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Check social media, and you&#;ll find thousands of glowing posts for the latest microbiome buzzword: #butyrate.
From TikTok to Instagram to Twitter, users and advertisers are posting shoutouts to this short-chain fatty acid, claiming it aids in everything from digestion to depression. Butyrate enthusiasts are adding fiber-rich sauerkraut to soup, bingeing on butter and kombucha, and taking supplements to boost levels in their bodies.
But what is butyrate, and can it really do all that its fans say it does? Or is it all hype and no help?
Early evidence, mostly from animal studies, suggests the truth may lie somewhere in between. Registered dietitian and gut microbiome researcher Gail Cresci, PhD, RD, explains what you need to know about butyrate.
Butyrate is produced when &#;good&#; bacteria in your gut help your body break down dietary fiber in your large intestine (colon). It&#;s one of several short-chain fatty acids, which are named for their chemical structure.
Dr. Cresci has studied butyrate for more than a decade. &#;It&#;s amazing how many beneficial things it does for the body,&#; she says.
Butyrate (pronounced &#;byoo-ter-ate&#;) plays an important role in digestive system health by providing the main energy source for your colon cells; it meets about 70% of their energy needs. And it may provide other health benefits, too, including supporting your immune system, reducing inflammation and preventing diseases like cancer.
Advertisement
One type of butyrate is butyric (or butanoic) acid, a chemically modified version of butyrate sometimes used in foods and supplements.
Other types include:
Butter is a good source of butyrate, but you&#;d need to eat far more of it than is recommended; it&#;s high in saturated fat and can raise your risk of cardiovascular disease. Instead, boost your body&#;s butyrate levels by increasing your daily fiber intake with plant-based foods.
Because your body doesn&#;t break down fiber during the digestion process, it&#;s left for your gut bacteria to break down. Your healthy gut bacteria produce butyrate from dietary soluble, fermentable fibers that only they can break down.
Other sources include prebiotics and supplements that are high in fiber.
You can promote butyrate production by consuming foods high in fermentable fiber. For excellent natural sources, eat a healthy diet rich in:
Let&#;s break down some of those categories a little bit further.
Many fruits contain fermentable fibers, including:
Vegetables and legumes high in fiber include:
It&#;s wise to consume these foods in moderation (no more than 5% to 6% of your total daily calories) because they&#;re high in saturated fat and cholesterol. They include:
If you don&#;t consume much fiber, add it slowly to your diet and drink plenty of liquids to maintain hydration. You may experience some gas or bloating, but it&#;ll begin to subside in a couple of days, says Dr. Cresci.
&#;If you eat a lot of fiber and don&#;t drink a lot of water, you can get really constipated,&#; she says. &#;Also, look at your urine. Aim for a light yellow throughout the day, which means you&#;re adequately hydrated.&#;
Some supplements may encourage butyrate production, but you should talk to your healthcare provider before taking any. Most supplements use butyric acid and some kind of salt, but they haven&#;t been proven to be beneficial.
&#;The best way to get butyrate is to eat fresh fruits and vegetables that contain soluble fermentable fiber,&#; Dr. Cresci advises. &#;Feed your body so that it makes butyrate for you.&#;
Advertisement
You may have low butyrate levels and a higher risk of infection or inflammation in your gut if:
Early research shows that butyrate can benefit your gut health, but we need more investigation to understand how it works in people and whether it has other benefits. Butyrate could encourage weight loss, stabilize blood sugars, maintain or improve intestinal function, and protect against or help treat disease.
Here are some benefits butyrate is thought to do for your body.
Studies have shown that butyrate supplements may reduce the severity of disease-causing (pathogenic) bacterial infection by lessening inflammation. This could help prevent potentially fatal conditions such as sepsis.
Researchers have also linked low levels of butyrate to an increased risk of inflammatory intestinal disease and colorectal (colon) cancer.
Advertisement
Butyrate supports the gut barrier, which keeps bacteria and other microbes from entering your blood. A sodium butyrate supplement may help with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis and Crohn&#;s disease.
In one study, 66 adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) who took a daily dose of sodium butyrate reported less abdominal pain. In another study, 9 of 13 people with Crohn&#;s disease reported improved symptoms after taking butyric acid every day for eight weeks.
Other research shows that a diet high in dietary fiber, which encourages butyrate production, could help lower your risk of colon cancer.
One laboratory study in human cancer cell lines found that sodium butyrate stopped the growth of colorectal cancer cells and caused cancer cell death (known as apoptosis). It&#;s also been shown to reduce damage caused by cancer or chemotherapy.
People with Type 2 diabetes often experience insulin resistance and obesity. Because butyrate helps produce gut hormones that regulate blood sugar levels, it may improve these symptoms. One study showed a potential link between butyrate production and lower insulin resistance.
Butyrate-friendly foods and supplements may improve brain health. Researchers have shown that butyrate can protect your brain and improve its ability to adapt (known as plasticity).
Advertisement
Early studies suggest it may help prevent or treat stroke, depression and other diseases that affect the brain, like Parkinson&#;s disease and Alzheimer&#;s disease.
Some studies suggest that butyrate may help protect your body against widespread cardiovascular diseases. Heart and blood vessel problems can increase your risk of:
The promise of butyrate extends all the way to your bedroom. Emerging evidence suggests that your gut bacteria are a source of signals that promote sleep.
A study showed that mice and rats who received butyrate showed a dramatic increase in non-rapid-eye movement (NREM) sleep for four hours after treatment. NREM includes important stages of sleep for your physical and mental health.
It&#;s not yet clear exactly how much butyrate you need. According to the United States Department of Agricultures (USDA), the recommended intake for dietary fiber is 25 grams per day for women and 35 grams per day for men, or about 28 grams as part of a 2,000-calorie daily diet. Your value may be higher or lower, depending on your calorie intake. This fiber should be a mixture of soluble (butyrate-generating) and insoluble sources.
We need more research to know if butyrate is safe and at what levels, but here are a few concerns worth noting:
For more isobutyric acid manufacturerinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
In other words, more butyrate isn&#;t necessarily better. As always, when it comes to supplements, don&#;t take advice from TikTok celebs. Talk to your healthcare provider instead.
Updated on September 16,
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.
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:
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:
Under such conditions, a butyric acid supplement can be a suitable alternative (or addition) to a fiber-rich diet.
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.
Comparison: Raw Butyric Acid versus Butyric Acid Supplement
Raw Butyric Acid
Butyric Acid Supplements
Palatability
Highly pungent odor and acrid taste make it difficult to ingest.
Advanced supplement formulations make butyrate palatable.
Absorption
Quickly absorbed in the upper intestinal tract and rapidly eliminated from the body.
Encapsulated butyrate supplements enable targeted delivery of butyric acid molecules for enhanced absorption.*
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.
Benefits of Butyric Acid Supplements
Gastrointestinal System
The presence of butyric acid in the gut inhibits the growth of pathogenic (bad) bacteria, which negatively affect gut health and function7.* Butyric acid supplementation promotes gastrointestinal health by:
Neurological System
Butyrate has been shown to have beneficial effects on neurological health due to its neuroprotective effects and modulation of the gut-brain axis, supporting healthy cognitive function12.*
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:
The following are frequently asked questions about butyric acid supplements:
The recommended amount of butyric acid in currently available nutritional supplements is 150-300 mg/ day19.
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.
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.
The key features of the best butyric acid supplement are:
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.*
The power of Tesseract supplements lies in enhancing palatability, maximizing absorption and bioavailability, and micro-dosing a nutrients in a single, highly effective capsule. Shop products on our website and learn more about how they can help support your gastrointestinal health.*
Shop Products
Citations:
1Steliou K, et al. BioResearch Open Access vol. 1,4 (): 192-198. doi:10./biores..
2Donohoe DR, Garge N, Zhang X, et al. Cell Metab. ;13(5):517-526. doi:10./j.cmet..02.018
3Peng K, et al. Frontiers in Endocrinology vol. 14 . 24 Feb. , doi:10./fendo..
4Amiri P, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology vol. 12 . 2 Feb. , doi:10./fphar..
5Chen Z, et al. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology vol. 9 . 2 Nov. , doi:10./fcell..
6Carabotti, Marilia et al. Annals of gastroenterology vol. 28,2 (): 203-209.
7Zhu, Li-Bin et al. World journal of clinical pediatrics vol. 10,5 84-92. 9 Sep. , doi:10./wjcp.v10.i5.84
8Canani, Roberto Berni et al. World journal of gastroenterology vol. 17,12 (): -28. doi:10./wjg.v17.i12.
9Zeissig S, Fromm A, Mankertz J, et al. Gastroenterology. ;132(1):236-248. doi:10./j.gastro..10.033
10Böcker U, Nebe T, Herweck F, et al. Clin Exp Immunol. ;131(1):53-60. doi:10./j.-...x
11Sui SJ, Tian ZB, Wang QC, et al. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. ;22(14):-. doi:10./eurrev__
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. ;64(12):-. doi:10./..
13Portincasa P, Bonfrate L, Vacca M, et al. Int J Mol Sci. ;23(3):. Published Jan 20. doi:10./ijms
14Brahe LK, Astrup A, Larsen LH. Obes Rev. ;14(12):950-959. doi:10./obr.
15Peng K, et al. Frontiers in Endocrinology vol. 14 . 24 Feb. , doi:10./fendo..
16Amiri P, et al. Frontiers in Pharmacology vol. 12 . 2 Feb. , doi:10./fphar..
17Aguilar EC, Leonel AJ, Teixeira LG, et al. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. ;24(6):606-613. doi:10./j.numecd..01.002
18Chen Z, et al. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology vol. 9 . 2 Nov. , doi:10./fcell..
19Peng K, et al. Butyrate and obesity: Current research status and future prospect. Frontiers in Endocrinology vol. 14 . 24 Feb. , doi:10./fendo..
Previous: What Is Butyric Acid? Benefits, Dosage and Side Effects
Next: What Is Butyric Acid? Benefits, Dosage and Side Effects
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )