Butyric Acid

5 min readEvidence-linked topicGreen Medicine Encyclopedia

Overview

Butyric acid (also called butyrate or butanoic acid) is a four-carbon short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) that plays key roles in human health, mainly as a result of gut microbial fermentation of dietary fiber. Most butyrate is produced by beneficial gut bacteria such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia species, Eubacterium rectale, and Clostridium butyricum by fermenting indigestible carbohydrates like dietary fiber, resistant starch, and certain oligosaccharides. Smaller amounts are found in dairy fats or can come from supplements.

 

Health Benefits of Butyric Acid

Cardiovascular System

 Butyric Acid may stimulate Blood Circulation to the Large Intestine.  [1]

Digestive System

 Butyric Acid may alleviate Colitis (Butyric Acid is the major Fatty Acid fuel source for the Cells that line the Colon):  [2]

 Butyric Acid (Sodium Butyrate form administered via enema) may increase the synthesis of Mucin in the Colon in Ulcerative Colitis patients.  [3]

 Butyric Acid may reduce Inflammation in Crohn's Disease patients.  [4]

 Butyric Acid may stimulate the growth of the Intestinal Mucosa of the Intestinal Wall.

 Butyric Acid may reduce Intestinal Permeability (due to butyric acid’s role as a nutrient for the growth of the Cells of the Intestinal Wall). 

 Butyric Acid may stimulate the growth of the Large Intestine: 

 Butyric Acid comprises 15% to 20% of the total Volatile and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in the Colon.  Butyric Acid may promote the proliferation of healthy Cells in the (distal) Colon and may provide Energy to the Cells of the Colon.  It is the preferred metabolic fuel for colonocytes (cells of the colon).  [5]

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