Butyric acid - A vital short-chain fatty acid for gut health and ...

History & Evolution

-23: first observed in impure form by Michel Eugène Chevreul (Chevreul ) | : first synthesized by Lieben and Rossi (Goldberg )

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Butyric acid is a four-carbon straight short chain fatty acid (SCFA) found in the esters of animal fats and plant oils. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek for butter, which is where it was first identified. Butyric acid is responsible for the foul smell found in rancid butter, parmesan cheese, vomit and body odor (Huang et al. ). Interestingly, as for isovaleric acid, some esters of butyric acid have a more appealing scent, and are often used in perfumes.

Butyric acid is one of three common SCFAs in the human gut, alongside acetic acid and propionic acid, which together make up 90-95% of the SCFAs in the colon (Ríos-Cavián et al. ). It is a major source of energy for the colon and is used in treatments for colorectal cancer, hemoglobinopathies and gastrointestinal diseases (Huang et al. ).

In industry, butyric acid has applications in food, textile production, animal feed, and biofuels, often chemically synthesized through the oxidation of propylene-derived butyraldehyde, or through syngas fermentation (Huang et al. ).

Biosynthesis vs. dietary uptake

Most SCFAs in the gut come from dietary fibers: because humans lack the enzymes to digest these, they pass through the intestinal tract and are fermented by host bacteria. Butyric acid is a conjugate of butyrate, which is produced through the fermentation of hydrolysis-resistant starches and dietary fiber by anaerobic bacteria in the colon (Wong et al. ). Some butyrate is also produced as proteins and peptides are digested in the bowel (Macfarlane et al. ).

Diet, composition of the microbiome, and intestinal transit time all influence butyric acid formation, as with the other SCFAs (Morrison et al. ). Most of the dietary fiber from which butyric acid is produced comes from plant sources, such as resistant starch, cruciferous vegetables, and foods with a high sulphur content (Rivière et al. ). Dietary butyric acid is found in dairy products, red meat, and fermented foods such as sauerkraut. Around 5% of the saturated fat in dairy products comes from butyric acid (Månsson ). Butyric acid can also be taken in supplement form.

Butyric acid and the microbiome

SCFAs are a popular research topic in medical biochemistry because of their potential role in gut function, glucose homeostasis, metabolic regulation, and appetite (Blakeney et al. ; Vijay et al. ). They are also known to influence inflammation and immune response.

In the colon, butyrate is a source of energy for endothelial cells, promotes cell differentiation and apoptosis, and can inhibit colonic acidification (Wong et al. ). Some studies suggest that butyrate can suppress colorectal cancer, though results are inconclusive (Silva et al. ). Butyric acid has been shown to influence pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disease and gut dysbiosis, and animal studies show that higher concentrations of butyric acid in the colon reduce the severity of inflammation.

Butyric acid as a signaling molecule

SCFAs are known to act as signaling molecules between gut microbiota and host, with receptors in many different cell and tissue types (Morrison et al. ). Butyric acid is an endogenous agonist of one of these receptors, hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 2 (HCA2). HCA2 is a protein receptor that can inhibit the breakdown of fats, giving butyric acid a key role in lipid metabolism. Butyric acid is also an agonist of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), a nutrient sensor which helps to stabilize lipid metabolism and inhibit cancer cell proliferation in the colon (Hong et al. ).

One notable way in which butyric acid regulates the inflammatory process is by stimulating the production of eicosanoids, which are lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid (Vinolo et al. ). These are also known to regulate other immune processes involved in cancer, asthmas, and arthritis (Harizi et al. ).

Butyric acid and the immune system

As noted, butyric acid exerts several effects in the human gut which affect immune processes (Kovarik et al. ). Butyric acid is thought to increase acetylation of histone H3, in turn influencing the behavior of regulatory T cells, which can inhibit the immune response (Borycka-Kiciak et al. ). Through this mechanism, SCFAs link crosstalk between the human microbiome and immune system, though it is not clear whether this is by increasing tolerance in the microbiome, or by reducing the inflammatory response (Morrison et al. ).

Recent research has highlighted the significance of butyric acid in the gut microbiome, particularly its role in maintaining immune function and metabolic balance. For instance, a study investigating age-associated gut dysbiosis in older individuals living with HIV found a notable decrease in butyrogenic potential, correlating with alterations in plasma tryptophan metabolites (Brivio et al. )

A few clinical studies have observed an anti-inflammatory effect from the therapeutic use of SCFAs in cases of inflammatory bowel disease, radiation proctitis, and diabetes. Growing evidence suggests SCFAs support the immune system and metabolism through gut-liver inflammatory pathways (Morrison et al. ).

Butyric acid and the brain

In addition to its role in the gastrointestinal tract, butyric acid may also contribute to links between gut dysbiosis and neurological conditions, such as depression, Alzheimer&#;s disease, Parkinson&#;s disease, and autism spectrum disorder (Silva et al. ).

Studies looking at the use of probiotics to increase butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut suggest butyrates could help reduce anxiety and lower stress (Bourassa et al. ). A review by Bourassa et al. proposed possible mechanisms for butyric acid&#;s neuroprotective effects, including mitochondrial activity, G-protein coupled receptors, histone acetylation, and microbiome homeostasis. A clear line was drawn between the consumption of a high fiber diet, butyrate production, and protection against multiple neurological conditions through these pathways (Bourassa et al. ).

Butyric acid and cardiometabolic diseases

The role of SCFAs in lipid and energy metabolism links them to certain metabolic conditions. Butyrate has been shown to protect against diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance, which suggests it may offer potential therapeutic role in obesity-related diseases and diabetes (Lin et al. ). Animal studies confirm that butyric acid supplementation can improve insulin sensitivity: in one study, butyric acid caused fat loss and improved insulin tolerance in mice (Heimann et al. , Gao et al. ). More research is needed to confirm the effect in humans.

Gut microbiota have a well-established link to coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis. One animal study has shown that butyrate supplementation could reduce atherosclerotic lesions, while another suggested that butyric acid seems to mediate gut microbiota and the circulatory system (Onyszkiewicz  et al. ). Some studies have suggested that butyric acid affects arterial blood pressure, with one showing a significant hypotensive effect when butyric acid concentration in the colon was increased (Onyszkiewicz et al. ). The precise mechanism is unknown: it may result from bacterial metabolites having a stimulating enterosyne effect on the enteric nervous system, or from metabolite-derived molecules entering the circulatory system and influencing arterial blood pressure through various organs (Onyszkiewicz et al. ).

Butyric acid and cancer: the &#;butyrate paradox&#;

As noted, butyric acid has been shown in several studies to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells in the colon, by inducing apoptosis, inhibiting cancer gene expression, inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, and promoting anti-inflammatory processes (Williams et al. ). However, other studies challenge the notion of a chemopreventive effect from butyrate, and there is a lack of agreement particularly when comparing in vitro and in vivo studies, referred to as the butyrate paradox (Lupton ). It seems likely that butyrate&#;s chemopreventive effect depends on the amount of butyrate, time of exposure during the tumorigenic process, and type of dietary fat. Our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is likely to grow with the advance of genomic and metabolomic technologies. Because butyric acid is a by-product of fiber fermentation, this could explain why high fiber diets help to protect against colorectal cancer, as well as obesity, stroke, type 2 diabetes and other conditions.

Learn more about the roles of butyric acid and other SCFAs in complex chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer&#;s disease, depression, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and diabetes in our whitepaper &#;Complex chronic diseases have a common origin&#;.

 

 

References

Blakeney, B. et al.: The Branched Short Chain Fatty Acid Isovaleric Acid Causes Colonic Smooth Muscle Relaxation via cAMP/PKA Pathway. () Digestive Diseases and Sciences | https://doi.org/10./s-018--5

Borycka-Kiciak, K. et al.: Butyric acid &#; a well-known molecule revisited. () Gastroenterology Review | https://doi.org/10./pg..

Bourassa, M. et al.: Butyrate, Neuroepigenetics and the Gut Microbiome: Can a High Fiber Diet Improve Brain Health? () Neuroscience Letters | https://doi.org/10./j.neulet..02.009

Brivio, P et al.: Venlafaxine&#;s effect on resilience to stress is associated with a shift in the balance between glucose and fatty acid utilization () Neuropsychopharmacol. 48, &#;). | https://doi.org/10./s-023--0

Chevreul, M.: Recherches Chimiques sur les Corps Gras d&#;Origine Animale. () Paris: Imprimerie Nationale | https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark://bpt6kv/f459.item

Gao, Z. et al.: Butyrate Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Increases Energy Expenditure in Mice. () Diabetes | https://doi.org/10./db08-

Goldberg, I. and Rokem, JS.: Organic and Fatty Acid Production () Microbial. Vol. 3rd edition, in Encyclopedia of Microbiology, by Moselio Schaechter | https://doi.org/10./B978-0-12--8.-3

Harizi, H. et al.: Arachidonic-acid-derived eicosanoids: roles in biology and immunopathology. () Trends in Molecular Medicine | https://doi.org/10./j.molmed..08.005

Heimann, E. et al.: Propionic acid and butyric acid inhibit lipolysis and de novo lipogenesis and increase insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in primary rat adipocytes. () Adipocyte | https://doi.org/10./..

Hong, F. et al.: PPARs as Nuclear Receptors for Nutrient and Energy Metabolism. () Molecules | https://doi.org/10./molecules

Huang, J. et al.: Biosynthesis of butyric acid by Clostridium tyrobutyricum. () Preparative Biochemistry & Biotechnology | https://doi.org/10./..

Kovarik, K. et al.: Eicosanoid modulation by the short-chain fatty acid n-butyrate in human monocytes. () Immunology | https://doi.org/10./imm.

Lin, H. et al.: Butyrate and Propionate Protect against Diet-Induced Obesity and Regulate Gut Hormones via Free Fatty Acid Receptor 3-Independent Mechanisms. () PLoS One | https://doi.org/10./journal.pone.

Lupton, J.: Microbial Degradation Products Influence Colon Cancer Risk: the Butyrate Controversy. () The Journal of Nutrition | https://doi.org/10./jn/134.2.479

Macfarlane, G. and Macfarlane, T.: Regulation of short-chain fatty acid production. () Proceedings of the Nutrition Society | https://doi.org/10./PNS

Månsson, HL.: Fatty acids in bovine milk fat. () Food and Nutrition Research | https://doi.org/10./fnr.v52i0.

Morrison, D. and Preston T.: Formation of short chain fatty acids by the gut microbiota and their impact on human metabolism. () Gut Microbes | https://doi.org/10./..

Onyszkiewicz, M. et al.: Butyric acid, a gut bacteria metabolite, lowers arterial blood pressure via colon-vagus nerve signaling and GPR41/43 receptors. () Pflügers Archiv &#; European Journal of Physiology | https://doi.org/10./s-019--y

Ríos-Cavián, D. et al.: Intestinal Short Chain Fatty Acids and their Link with Diet and Human Health.() Frontiers in Microbiology | https://doi.org/10./fmicb..

Rivière, A. et al.: Bifidobacteria and Butyrate-Producing Colon Bacteria: Importance and Strategies for Their Stimulation in the Human Gut. () Frontiers in Microbiology |  https://doi.org/10./fmicb..

Silva, Y. et al.: &#;The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids From Gut Microbiota in Gut-Brain Communication. () Frontiers in Endocrinology | https://doi.org/10./fendo..

Vijay A. Et al.: The prebiotic effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation: A six-week randomised intervention trial () Gut Microbes 13(1):1-11 | DOI: 10./..

Vinolo, M. et al.: Regulation of Inflammation by Short Chain Fatty Acids.&#; Nutrients () | https://doi.org/10./nu

Williams, E. et al.: Anti-cancer effects of butyrate: use of micro-array technology to investigate mechanisms. () Proceedings of the Nutrition Society | https://doi.org/10./PNS

Wong, J. et al.: Colonic health: fermentation and short chain fatty acids. () Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology | https://doi.org/10./--

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For more butyric acid benefitsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

You may not have realized it, but chances are you&#;ve consumed something called butyric acid before, and believe it or not, your body produces it as well. It&#;s true &#; butyric acid, also known as butanoic acid or BTA, is a saturated short-chain fatty acid found in butter, ghee, raw milk, animal fats and plant oils.

It&#;s also formed in and therefore found in our colons through the bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates like dietary fiber. Butyric acid supports the health and healing of cells in the small and large intestine. It&#;s also the favored source of fuel for the cells lining the interior of the large intestine or colon. (1)

The BTA content in ghee is one of the main components that provides all those wonderful ghee benefits. Consuming butyric acid in foods like ghee or in supplement form has been shown to aid digestion, calm inflammation and improve overall gastrointestinal health.

People who suffer from irritable bowl syndrome and Crohn&#;s disease have been shown to benefit from butyric acid, and studies show promise when it comes to diabetes and insulin resistance too. BTA is also known as a potential anticancer fatty acid, especially when it comes to colon cancer. (2)

I&#;m excited to tell you more about this extremely interesting fatty acid and how it can improve your overall health &#; and how it already is without you even knowing it!

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What Is Butyric Acid?

Butyric acid is a colorless liquid that is soluble in water. Scientifically speaking, its structure is four carbon fatty acids with the molecular formula C4H8O2 or CH3CH2CH2COOH. Butyric acid has other chemical names, including butanoic acid, n-butyric acid, n-butanoic acid and propylformic acid. (3) Along with acetic and propionic acids, it account for approximately 83 percent of the short chain fatty acids in the human colon.

On its own, BTA has an unpleasant smell and bitter, pungent taste, with a somewhat sweet aftertaste. It occurs as esters in animal fats and plant oils. What&#;s an ester? An ester is an organic compound that reacts with water to produce alcohols and organic or inorganic acids. Esters derived from carboxylic acids like butyric acid are the most common type of esters.

BTA is generated in the large intestine together with other short chain fatty acids from the fermentation of dietary carbohydrates, specifically prebiotics like resistant starches, fructooligosaccharides and other dietary fiber. (4)

The names &#;butyric acid&#; and &#;butyrate&#; are commonly used interchangeably even in scientific articles and studies. Technically, they have slightly different structures, but they&#;re still very similar. Butyrate or butanoate is the traditional name for the conjugate base of butyric acid. Put simply, butyrate is almost identical to butyric acid, but it just has one less proton. Judging by scientific studies, they appear to be pretty much identical in their health benefits.

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Health Benefits

1. Weight Loss

Butyric has gained popularity for its ability to possibly help people shed unwanted pounds. Scientific evidence has shown that people who are obese (as well as people who have type II diabetes) have a different composition of gut bacteria. Short chain fatty acids are believed to play a positive role along with probiotics in preventing metabolic syndrome, which almost always includes abdominal obesity. (5)

Short chain fatty acids like butyric acid help regulate the balance between fatty acid synthesis and the breakdown of fats. In a  animal study, after five weeks of treatment with BTA, obese mice lost 10.2 percent of their original body weight, and body fat was reduced by 10 percent. Butyric acid was also shown to improve insulin sensitivity, which helps guard against weight gain. (6)

Most of the evidence for linking BTA supplementation specifically to weight loss is based on animal research so far, but it does show positive effects in treating obesity naturally.

2. Potential Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Multiple studies have shown butyric acid&#;s potential ability to fight cancer, especially cancer in the colon. It&#;s actually shown an ability to &#;modify nuclear architecture&#; and induce the death of colon cancer cells. This is likely a huge reason why increased fiber intake has been linked with less colon cancer since higher fiber intake can typically equate to more butyric acid present in the colon. (7)

According to research published in the International Journal of Cancer, &#;the role of short chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, in colon cancer therapy has been extensively studied, and its tumor suppressive functions are believed to be due to their intracellular actions.&#; This laboratory study further shows that butyrate treatment led to an increase in the programmed cell death of colon cancer cells. (8)

According to a scientific article, it looks like &#;a high-fiber diet protects against colorectal tumors in a microbiota- and butyrate-dependent manner.&#; (9) What does that mean? It means that most likely getting plenty of fiber isn&#;t what fends off cancer on its own. It&#;s eating a diet rich in healthy fiber AND having enough good gut flora AND enough BTA present in the body that can provides cancer defense in the colon.

3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Relief

In general, butyric acid can have a very positive impact on gut health, which greatly affects the health of your entire body. Short chain fatty acids like butyric acid can help keep the gut ling healthy and sealed, which prevents leaky gut syndrome and all kinds of issues linked to a leaky gut like IBS symptoms. This is a type of digestive disorder that&#;s characterized by a group of common symptoms, including changes in bowel movements and abdominal pain.

A scientific article published in the Gastroenterology Review looked at butyric acid&#;s potential as an IBS diet therapy based on numerous studies conducted to date. Researchers conclude that &#;butyrate supplementation seems to be a promising therapy for IBS.&#; (10)

Some notable  research included in the article was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 66 adult patients with IBS who were given microencapsulated butyric acid at a dose of 300 milligrams per day or a placebo in addition to receiving standard therapy.

After four weeks, researchers found that subjects who took the butyric acid had a statistically significant decrease in the frequency of abdominal pain during bowel movements. After 12 weeks, subjects in the BTA group experienced decreases in the frequency of spontaneous abdominal pain, postprandial abdominal pain, abdominal pain during defecation and urge after defecation. (11)

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4. Crohn&#;s Disease Treatment

Crohn&#;s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by inflammation of the lining of the GI tract, abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Again, this is a disease related to a leaky gut. A study published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics was small, but it found that &#;oral butyrate is safe and well tolerated, and may be effective in inducing clinical improvement/remission in Crohn&#;s disease.&#; (12)

Another study showed that butyric acid can reduce pain during bowel movements and inflammation in the gut, both of which are extremely helpful to Crohn&#;s disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases. (13)

Short chain fatty acids like BTA truly play a crucial role in the maintenance of gut barrier integrity, which can help ward off a leaky gut and avoid an IBDs like Crohn&#;s.

5. Combats Insulin Resistance

A study published by the American Diabetes Foundation looked at butyric acid&#;s effect on the regulation of insulin sensitivity in mice consuming a diet high in fat. The study concluded that &#;dietary supplementation of butyrate can prevent and treat diet-induced insulin resistance in mouse.&#; Researchers also found that the mice treated with butyrate did not have any increase in body fat and the butyrate supplement actually appeared to prevent obesity. (14)

Researchers agree that more studies need to be conducted to further explore how butyrate affects insulin levels in humans, but it looks promising so far, which could have profound effects on treating diabetes.

6. General Anti-inflammatory Effects

Studies have shown the broad anti-inflammatory powers of butyric acid. It&#;s believed that not only can BTA help inflammatory conditions, but it might also have a helpful ability to manage immune responses. (15)

As we&#;ve said before, inflammation is the root of most diseases, which is why having more butyric acid in your body could likely benefit many people with various health problems with inflammatory roots.

How to Use

An increased intake of highly processed, low-fiber, high-sugar foods has been shown to decrease levels of butyrate production in the large intestine. Supplementing with butyric acid might be a good idea if you&#;re unable to obtain enough of it from your diet.

A butyric acid supplement is typically available at health stores or online. It&#;s most commonly found in capsule or tablet form. Dosage recommendations vary by product. Some recommend one to six capsules/tablets after meals while others suggest taking one capsule three times daily with meals, a few hours before or after taking other medications. It&#;s best to read product labels carefully and consult your doctor if you feel unsure.

If you prefer to get your butyric acid from foods, then the following are good choices: butter, ghee, raw milk and parmesan cheese. When looking for a high-quality butter, raw and cultured is best. This might be hard to find, however. Organic butter from grass-fed cows is your next best option. Some properly made kombucha (a fermented tea drink) can also contain butyric acid.

To naturally increase the butyric acid production in your body, you can up your intake of healthy prebiotics like raw Jerusalem artichokes, raw dandelion greens, raw jicama and under-ripe bananas.

Scientific research has found that fecal butyrate levels can vary greatly among individuals, but eating a diet high in resistance starches (like an under-ripe banana) typically increases butyric acid levels and may help maintain colorectal health. (16)

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Butyric Acid Interesting Facts

Butyric acid gets its name from the Greek word βούτ&#;ρον, which means butter. Butyric acid makes up about 3 percent to 4 percent of butter. Ever smell rancid butter? That unpleasant odor is the result of the chemical breakdown of the BTA glyceride. While on the topic of gross odors, butyric acid is actually responsible for human vomit&#;s distinctive scent too.

During his extremely long life (102 years plus), a French organic chemist named Michel Eugène Chevreul is said to have first observed butyric acid in its impure form in . It was by the acidification of animal fat soaps that he was able to identify butyric acid along with several other fatty acids for the first time, including oleic acid, capric acid (naturally occurs in coconut oil) and valeric acid. (17)

Risks and Side Effects

It&#;s hard to find any documented negative side effects of butyric acid supplements. If you take a butyric acid and experience any negative side effects, you may need to cut back on your dosage. Of course, if you have any serious side effects then you should discontinue use and seek immediate medical attention.

If you&#;re pregnant or nursing, speak to your doctor before taking a butyric acid supplement. Also talk to your doctor if you have any ongoing medical conditions or if you already take any other medications before taking a BTA supplement.

Final Thoughts

To increase the production of butyric acid in your body naturally, focus on getting more foods that contain butyric acid like ghee and high-quality butter on a regular basis. Also increase your daily intake of fiber-rich foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains.

If you can increase your intake of these prebiotics, then you can help increase the probiotics and short chain fatty acids in your body. This is a healthy and easy way to increase your butyric acid levels, not to mention your overall health.

Having the right balance of all prebiotics, probiotics and short chain fatty acids appears to not only improve minor as well as chronic gastrointestinal issues, but many studies show how butyric acid may have some serious cancer-fighting power, especially colon cancer.

What about a supplement? A butyric acid supplement might be helpful, especially if you suffer from an inflammatory bowel disease or are trying to prevent colon cancer. When it comes to weight loss, most of the evidence linking butyric acid to weight loss is based on animal and test-tube studies. A butyric acid supplement should definitely not be thought of as a magic weight loss supplement but might be helpful along with an overall healthy lifestyle.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of isobutyric acid manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.