What is Butyric acid and what does it do in the body?

Butyric acid is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), known also as butyrate and butanoic acid. It is one of the the three most common SCFAs in the colon along with acetic acid and propionic acid. These three SCFAs make up around 90 percent of the SCFAs in the gut. SCFAs are created by good bacteria in the gut when they break down dietary fiber or prebiotics. To read more about SCFAs and prebiotics and their role in digestion and gut health, check out the blog post: Digestion 101-Physio and Pathophysiology-Part III.

 

 

One of the primary functions of butyric acid and other SCFAs is to provide energy to the colon cells. It provides for about 70% of the energy needs of your colon cells. It also supports the immune system, has anti-inflammatory effects, and may help prevent and fight against cancer, especially colon cancer.

Butyric acid helps in metabolism by regulating the balance between fatty acid synthesis and breakdown of fats. Butyric acid helps maintain the integrity of the large intestinal lining and provides the preferred food of the colon cells; it does the same thing in the large intestine that glutamine does in the small intestine: supports the lining and provides fuel for the cells in the lining. 

 

 

What are some causes of a low level of butyric acid in the body?

Some causes of a low level of butyric acid in the body are anything that harms the bacteria in the colon that produce butyrate, not eating enough prebiotics and fiber so the bacteria does not have the means to produce butyrate, or taking medications that make the body less able to produce and absorb butyrate such as antibiotics.

Things that can harm the microbiome and thus affect the body’s production of butyric acid include antibiotics, overuse of NSAIDS, sugar, artificial sweeteners, antibiotic-laced meats and dairy, overconsumption of alcohol, smoking, lack of sleep, stress, and lack of exercise. 

 

 

Ways to improve the microbiome include eating a diet high in fiber and prebiotics, lowering stress, regular exercise, getting enough sleep, consuming foods with polyphenols, and reducing sugar consumption in the diet. Polyphenols are not digested very well and they typically end up in the colon where they are digested by the bacteria. Foods rich in polyphenols include blueberries, red wine, dark chocolate, and green tea. 

 

What is Butyric acid used for?

Butyric acid has been studied for its effects on gastrointestinal disorders such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, and Crohn’s disease. It also may help prevent or treat colon cancer, improve insulin sensitivity, protect the brain, promote sleep, and support inflammation. 

Butyric acid helps to strengthen the gut lining and keep it sealed; in this way it can help prevent leaky gut and associated symptoms including symptoms experienced with IBS. In a 2012 double blind study, patients taking 300 mg of Butyric acid everyday experienced a significant decrease in frequency of abdominal during bowel movements after four weeks and a decrease in frequency of spontaneous abdominal pain, postprandial abdominal pain, abdominal pain during bowel movement and urge after bowel movement after twelve weeks. For more information on IBS, check out our blog post: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). 

Leaky gut is also related to Crohn’s disease, so the strengthening and tightening of the intestinal lining from Butyric acid is helpful in Crohn’s disease as well. Additionally, a study showed that patients given 4 grams of Butyric acid everyday for 8 weeks improved the symptoms of 9 of the 13 participants. Another study from 2013 showed that Butyric acid reduced pain during bowel movements and inflammation in the gut, which are two hallmark problems of Crohn’s disease. 

Butyric acid may also prevent and help treat colon cancer. In one study, it was shown that sodium butyrate stopped the growth of colorectal cancer cells and causes cancer cell death (apoptosis). It has also been shown that sodium butyrate may reduce damage cause by cancer or chemotherapy. According to a study done on mice in 2014, it was examined that a high fiber diet protects against colorectal tumors because it promotes the health of the microbiome and the production of butyrate. So, a high fiber diet is recommended to prevent colon cancer because the fiber feeds bacteria that produces butyrate to be the cancer defense in the colon.

 

 

 

People with insulin resistance or type II diabetes have low amounts of Butyric acid producing bacteria in the gut. It has been shown that a high fiber diet may improve insulin resistance and thus may help prevent obesity. Butyric acid may support insulin resistance because it helps produce gut hormones that help regulate blood sugar levels. A study on mice in 2009 showed that dietary supplementation of butyrate can prevent and treat diet-induced insulin resistance in mice. 

 

 

The gut-brain axis explains why butyrate may help protect your brain. It has been shown that butyrate can protect the brain and improve its plasticity or ability to adapt. Also due to this connection, butyrate may also help promote sleep. 

Butyric acid also has general anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have shown that Butyric acid may help inflammatory conditions and may help to manage the immune response.

 

What are food sources of butyric acid?

Some food sources of Butyric acid are butter, ghee, raw milk, Parmesan cheese, red meat, and sauerkraut. The best way to increase butyrate is to eat prebiotics in the form of dietary fiber so your body makes butyrate for you. Below are some examples of prebiotic foods. If you wish to supplement with prebiotics as well, check out our list of prebiotic supplements, including Biotagen SFI in capsules and powder. 

 

 

What are the available forms of butyric acid?

Sodium butyrate: this form of butyrate is the salt of Butyric acid where Butyric acid is combined with sodium. Sodium helps to buffer the acid when it reaches the stomach to provide comfort. This is the form that is used in most scientific studies on butyrate. An option for sodium butyrate is Sodium Butyrate BodyBio. 

Calcium magnesium butyrate: this form of butyrate is also the salt form of Butyric acid when it is combined with calcium and magnesium. The calcium and magnesium buffer the Butyric acid when it reaches the stomach to provide comfort. There is not much of a difference between sodium and this form of butyrate but some experience a slight improvement in stress and sleep with calcium magnesium butyrate most likely due to the calming action of the minerals calcium and magnesium. Butyrate on its own can also provide these effects so sodium butyrate also can have these effects in the body. Some options for calcium magnesium butyrate are Butyric-Cal-Mag Biotics and Butyric Acid Ecological Formulas. 

Calcium beta-hydroxy beta-methyl butyrate: a highly bioavailable form of Butyric acid that doesn’t contain sodium hydroxylate (lye) that is sometimes found in sodium butyrate. An option for this form is EnteroVite Apex. 

 

What are contraindications of butyric acid?

If you’re pregnant or nursing, speak to your doctor before taking a butyric acid supplement. Additionally, if you have any medical conditions or are already taking medications, check with your healthcare provider before supplementing with Butyric acid. Butyrate may trigger symptoms in people with bloating or food intolerances who need lower fiber levels. 

 

What are the side effects of taking butyric acid?

There is limited evidence on the side effects of taking Butyric acid. If you increase your fiber intake to help your body produce Butyric acid and your body isn’t used to that much fiber, you may experience slight bloating, gas and indigestion for a few weeks, which should pass when your body adjusts to the change in fiber intake. 

 

 

 

 

References

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, July 11). The Health Benefits and Side Effects of Butyrate. Cleveland Clinic.  https://health.clevelandclinic.org/butyrate-benefits

Coyle, Daisy. (2024, August 13). 8 Surprising Things that Harm Your Gut Bacteria. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-things-that-harm-gut-bacteria#TOC_TITLE_HDR_11 

Haas, E.M. (2006). Staying Healthy with Nutrition: The Complete Guide to Diet and Nutritional Medicine: 21st Edition. Ten Speed Press. 

Price, Annie. (2017, June 15). What is Butyric Acid? 6 Benefits you Need to Know About. Dr. Axe. https://draxe.com/nutrition/butyric-acid/ 

Tesseract. (2023, January 3). Butyrate Supplement Side Effects: What You Need to Know. Tesseract Medical Research. https://insights.tessmed.com/butyrate-supplement-side-effects-what-you-need-to-know/ 

The Healthline Editorial Team. (2019, October 25). What is Butyric acid, and Does it Have Health Benefits? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/butyric-acid#bottom-line