What Is Butyric Acid? A Complete Guide

Dec. 09, 2024

What Is Butyric Acid? A Complete Guide

You might have heard about the immense therapeutic potential of butyric acid and how it can support your gut function and overall health.* Read on to learn everything about this multifunctional molecule and why you should seriously consider supplementing with it in addition to dietary intake. Use the links below to jump to specific related topics on the page.

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The Basics of Butyric Acid

Butyric acid, or butyrate, is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) naturally found in animal fat and plant oils. Known for its distinctly unpleasant odor and taste, butyric acid is usually to blame when you come across an off-putting smell like rancid butter or rancid parmesan cheese.

Inside the large intestine, bacteria ferments undigested dietary fiber and in doing so produces butyric acid. Although it is the least abundant SCFA produced in the body, butyric acid is described as the &#;energy powerhouse&#; for colon cells (colonocytes) and offers a wide range of health benefits.

Butyric acid contributes 60-70% of the energy
required by colonocytes.

How Does Butyric Acid Support Your Body?

Research has revealed a range of previously unknown beneficial properties in butyric acid, which gives the molecule enormous untapped potential. Let&#;s review some recent findings on how butyric acid provides therapeutic benefits.

The human intestine is populated with a complex array of bacterial flora that makes up the internal microbiome. These enteric bacteria use complex microbial pathways to ferment insoluble fiber and carbohydrates, which produce butyric acid. As the table below details, the body&#;s butyric acid production supports vital functions at both the internal and external intestinal level1.

Functions of butyric acid by intestinal levelINTESTINALEXTRAINTESTINALStimulates sodium chloride in the colon to avoid dehydration Minimizes peripheral insulin resistance &#; cells unable to absorb glucose from the blood Regulates cell cycle (growth and differentiation) of colonocytesLimits intestine&#;s cholesterol absorption to manage levels in the blood Supports healthy gastrointestinal inflammatory responsesControls how the body uses energy and maintains metabolic homeostasis &#; constant internal environmentProtects intestinal mucosa from pathogens and influences its immune responses Stimulates neurogenesis &#; forming new neurons in the brain Regulates intestinal motility &#; how quickly and easily food moves through the gastrointestinal tract Stimulates β-oxidation of very long-chain fatty acids &#; the pathway that oxidizes fatty acids to generate energy

Potential Therapeutic Applications of Butyric Acid

Several research studies show a broad spectrum of possibilities for butyric acid&#;s potential therapeutic applications. There is growing evidence2 on how the gut microbiome influences human brain functions through the &#;gut-brain axis&#;, suggesting the potential beneficial role of butyric acid in regulating our behavior, including social communication.*

Clinical studies have demonstrated a connection between
microbiota, butyric acid, and the brain.

The table below lists resources you can explore to better understand how butyric acid extends beneficial effects &#; from inside the intestinal tract to peripheral tissues &#; to support gastrointestinal and neurological functions.*

Including Butyrate-Rich Food Sources in Your Diet

Your body needs dietary fiber to produce butyric acid in the large intestine. Including high-fiber food in your diet is a natural way to enhance your body&#;s butyric acid level.

You can find plenty of dietary fiber in non-starch carbohydrate forms like:

Polysaccharides
Non-digestible oligosaccharides
Resistant starch (RS)

The USDA recommends a daily dietary fiber intake of
25g for women and 38g for men.

Resistant starch, which occurs naturally in foods like seeds and legumes, doesn&#;t release glucose in the small intestine. It resists digestion there (hence the name) to instead be consumed or fermented in the large intestine.

All of these are sources of undigested dietary fiber your body uses to produce SCFAs with the help of gut bacteria. Below, we offer a list of butyrate-rich food sources that can enhance your body&#;s butyric acid production.

When Do You Need A Butyric Acid Supplement?

Although a healthy lifestyle and a balanced, fiber-rich diet can enhance butyric acid production in your intestine, you might still need additional oral supplementation under the following conditions:

Changes to the intestinal microbiome or bacterial flora, causing low butyrate production
Potential damage to colonocytes
Accelerated intestinal passage and intestinal excretion
Other pathological conditions

Any of these conditions can make it difficult to consume and tolerate the fiber needed in the sufficient amounts needed to produce the desired butyrate level. A butyric acid nutritional supplement offers an easy way for enhancing butyrate levels in the intestine.

Common Routes of Butyric Acid Supplement Intake

The conventional ways to increase butyric acid levels in the intestine include:

Butyrate mineral salts. Upon contact with the slightest amount of moisture, butyrate mineral salts emit the distinctively foul smell of butyric acid, which makes this form difficult for patients to ingest orally.

Sodium butyrate enema. An enema injected rectally under medical supervision can also enhance the level of butyric acid in the gut.

Challenges of Using Butyric Acid as A Supplement

If the butyric acid level in your intestine is low, then intake of butyric acid would seem like an obvious solution. However, butyric acid does pose some challenges as an oral supplement:

Unpalatable taste and odor. Butyric acid has an acrid taste and a distinctive vomit-like smell. Its repugnant taste and odor make butyric acid a formidable challenge to patient compliance with a supplement regimen.

Quick absorption. The quick absorption of butyric acid in the upper portion of the GI tract can impact its efficacy.

Encapsulating butyric acid molecules, such as the proprietary methodology Tesseract Medical Research has pioneered, is one way to overcome these obstacles to ingesting a butyric acid supplement. This technological measure:

Protects the butyric acid molecules from breaking down while passing through the stomach (enhancing bioavailability).
Enables the slow release of the butyric acid molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract (optimizing absorption).

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Butyric Acid Supplements

Are there side effects of butyric acid supplements?

The currently available clinical data establish butyric acid as a safe supplement with no toxicity or adverse side effects. Intake of a butyric acid supplement, even in a high amount, is well-tolerated, making it practically impossible to consume too much butyrate.

What is the recommended amount of butyric acid intake in supplement form?

It is estimated that the daily production of butyric acid in the intestinal lumen is about 5.5 &#; 7.5 g/ day. The daily requirement for butyric acid falls within a very wide range of 1,000 mg/ day &#; 10,000 mg/ day. The high viscosity of intestinal contents and the rapid absorption of SCFAs increase the difficulty of determining the optimal amount of butyric acid supplementation for oral intake. However, the recommended amount of butyric acid, as present in currently available nutritional supplements, is 150-300 mg/ day3.

Can I take a butyric acid supplement with a prescription medicine?

It is always advised to consult with your health-care provider before incorporating a butyric acid supplement into your diet or taking it with prescription medicine and/ or other supplements.

How do I determine the efficacy of a butyric acid supplement to support my gut health?

The efficacy of a butyric acid supplement is determined by the absorption and bioavailability of the butyric acid molecules. Oral supplement formulations using encapsulation techniques display enhanced efficacy compared to non-encapsulated butyric acid.

Advanced formulations such as ProButyrate®, developed by Tesseract Medical Research, utilize proprietary and revolutionary CyLoc® &#; DexKey® nutrient delivery technology to further boost the absorption of butyric acid molecules. The CyLoc® technology isolates and encases individual butyrate molecules in their own dextrin carrier to ensure integrity and palatability. The DexKey® technology accompanies each CyLoc® molecule as a release agent to deploy targeted butyrate molecules at the desired point in the intestinal tract. The effective time-release therapeutic delivery of individual butyrate molecules promotes a healthy intestinal environment, resulting in overall positive health benefits.*

Visit Tesseract Medical Research to know more about what butyric acid is and how to incorporate this therapeutic molecule into your diet through our groundbreaking supplement formulations.

Citations:

1Canani, Roberto Berni, et al. World Journal of Gastroenterology vol. 17,12 (): -28. doi:10./wjg.v17.i12.

2Stilling, Roman M, et al. Neurochemistry international vol. 99 (): 110-132. doi:10./j.neuint..06.011

3Banasiewicz, Tomasz, et al. Przeglad gastroenterologiczny vol. 15,2 (): 119-125. doi:10./pg..

Your Gut+ and Butyrate Start Guide

Your Gut+ and Butyrate Start Guide: Timing, Dosage, Probiotics, and More

Congratulations! You&#;ve taken the first step toward gut-brain axis support, improved immune system function, and the healthiest BM&#;s of your life.

Gut+ is the do-it-all gut health supplement that combines prebiotics and postbiotics to support your natural microbiome, regulate motility, and reduce uncomfortable gut symptoms like gas and bloating.*

But how do you get started taking our newest gut health champion? Here, we&#;ll cover all of your frequently asked questions regarding Gut+, digestive health, and how this new and advanced supplement interacts with Butyrate.

Table of Contents:

So I Just Received Gut+ &#; Now What?

First, take a deep breath. Your gut symptoms aren&#;t forever &#; and Gut+ is bringing you one step closer to achieving your health goals.

Take one Gut+ capsule daily with food. Preferably, at breakfast time. This gives your supplement all day to work its magic, saving night hours for (digestive) rest and relaxation.

If you&#;re already taking a butyrate supplement, you may want to experiment with timing. Gut+ could be your morning supplement and butyrate may fit better into your lunch or dinner schedule.

Gut+ and butyrate can be taken together, too. However, if you are taking both supplements, we recommend you start slowly by taking them at separate meal times. This gives your body time to adjust to the new protocol without overwhelm.

I&#;m Sensitive to Supplements. Should I Expect Any Side Effects?

We get it. Your gut is already out of whack and you don&#;t want to make symptoms worse. The good news is, any die-off effects caused by Gut+ are short-lived. And, most people don&#;t experience side effects at all. If you&#;re worried, here are some survival tips to help curb any side effects:

Make sure you take
Gut+
with a full meal.
You can take both Gut+
and
butyrate daily. But, if you&#;re sensitive, it&#;s best to work your way up to taking both at once.
If you find that Gut+ is too much for your body to handle right now, try taking butyrate first. Butyrate has a lower dosage per capsule and doesn&#;t include Preforpro prebiotics. Once you feel comfortable, you can switch over to Gut+.
If your heart is set on Gut+, simply lower the dosage and take it once every two days until your body gets used to it.

Are you experiencing side effects? We&#;ve found that any side effects (usually mild constipation) resolve themselves after a few days.

Can I Open Gut+ Capsules and Take Them With Food or Water?

Gut+ is carefully formulated for optimal absorption and bioavailability in a one capsule dose. For this reason, we don&#;t recommend altering the capsules in any way or opening them.

Can I Have a &#;Die Off&#; Reaction with Gut+?

Yep, it&#;s totally possible to have a detox or &#;die off&#; reaction when taking Gut+, as it is with any supplement, especially for those who are sensitive. However, it&#;s unlikely. Flu-like symptoms, headache, or fatigue are typically a sign that you are killing off a pathogen and/or rebalancing the microbiome. When this happens, you may need to support your drainage pathways.

Here are some ways you can support your body through the detox process:

Are you interested in learning more about butyric acid benefits? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Liposomal glutathione
NAC
Milk thistle
Dry brushing
Infrared sauna use
Exercise/movement
Rebounding (trampoline jumping is great for your lymphatic system!)
Castor oil packs
Liquid minerals
for energy
Lymphatic massage
Support your brain and cell membranes with
BodyBio PC

People with a complicated medical history (chemical sensitivity, mold exposure, parasites, Lyme disease, SIBO, glyphosate toxicity, etc.) are generally more likely to experience a Herxheimer reaction when taking Gut+, but it isn&#;t guaranteed.

If you feel anxious about beginning Gut+, take a moment to evaluate your drainage pathways. Do you struggle to sweat? Do you poop daily? Do you digest fats correctly? It may be helpful to make some progress on these blockage issues before beginning Gut+. However, Gut+ may also be the catalyst to improving some of these issues by rebalancing your microbiome. This is an individual process, so evaluate your situation and proceed accordingly.

What are PreforPro Prebiotics?

We believe Preforpro prebiotics are the most scientifically advanced way to gently curb dysbiosis and rebalance your gut. But what are they exactly? Preforpro is a bacteriophage that gently eliminates unwanted bacteria from the gut &#; leaving room for healthy bacteria to grow and flourish. The bacteriophage prebiotics are designed to support your healthy gut bacteria without causing the bloating and gas that fiber-based prebiotics sometimes do.

Is Gut+ Meant to Replace Butyrate?

Since Gut+ contains highly absorbable tributyrin, it can be used as a replacement for your everyday butyrate supplement. Think of it as our new state-of-the-art butyrate option. However, Gut+ doesn&#;t have to replace butyrate if butyrate is working perfectly fine for you now. Some people also find added benefits in taking both supplements daily.

Do I Take Gut+ with Butyrate?

We recommend you evaluate your gut health status before replacing butyrate with Gut+. If you have a number of digestive complaints, it may be beneficial to take both supplements daily. If symptoms are mild or you are looking to maintain healthy gut status, you can probably get away with Gut+ alone. One way to evaluate your gut health is to take a test like the Thorne Onegevity Gut Test.

Should I Switch to Gut+ If I Currently Take Butyrate?

If you only have the budget or capacity for one gut supplement, it may be beneficial to switch to Gut+. This is because Gut+ includes Preforpro prebiotics and postbiotics and is unlike any other gut supplement on the market. Essentially, it&#;s a broader approach to digestive health than taking butyrate alone.

Everyone reacts differently to supplements, so we recommend you try Gut+ and butyrate for up to 1-3 months each to evaluate the benefits. Then, choose the one that works best for you.

Do I Need to Take a Probiotic Supplement with Gut+?

Broad-spectrum probiotics aren&#;t as effective as clever marketing wants you to believe. In fact, 66% of BodyBio customers said their probiotic supplement had little to no effect on their overall gut health. Yikes!

Instead of probiotics, Gut+ uses prebiotics and postbiotics to improve gut health. These provide fuel and support for the healthy bacteria that are already growing in your gut &#; allowing it to prosper naturally.

No, you don&#;t necessarily need to take a probiotic supplement in addition to Gut+. If you have a probiotic you really love, by all means, keep taking it. But if your probiotic supplement doesn&#;t provide any results, it&#;s time to ditch it and watch Gut+ do its magic.

Can Gut+ Replace My Current Probiotic Supplement?

Your microbiome is as unique as your fingerprint. It&#;s made up of trillions of microscopic bacteria that can impact your digestion for good or bad. When you take a broad-spectrum probiotic, your body doesn&#;t necessarily have the fuel (prebiotics and postbiotics) to support it. And, you&#;re shooting in the dark because you don&#;t actually know what bacterial strains your body needs.

We created Gut+ as a probiotic replacement. Its goal is to work alongside your unique microbiome &#; instead of trying to replace it with unknown probiotics. Prebiotics and postbiotics provide fuel for your natural microbiome to thrive.

Gut+ vs. Butyrate Major Differences

How about a side-by-side comparison of Gut+ versus butyrate? We&#;ve got you. Here, you can evaluate the differences between these two cutting-edge supplements and decide which one is best for you.

Major Gut+ Benefits vs. Butyrate Benefits

In addition to the benefits listed in our chart above, there are a few other things you should know about Gut+ and butyrate for gut health:

Gut+ is designed as an all-in-one gut health supplement. You no longer have to sort through dozens of pills each morning hoping that one of them will take care of your gut dysbiosis. Preforpro bacteriophage prebiotics and ultra absorbable tributyrin combine for full body benefits like blood sugar regulation, detox, digestion, and brain support. Think of it as a more advanced form of our trusted butyrate supplement.

Sodium vs. Calcium/Magnesium Butyrate

Curious to know more about the benefits of butyrate? We offer two kinds of butyrate supplements: calcium and magnesium butyrate and sodium butyrate. One of our most common questions is: which kind is best for me? Check out this blog post for answers.

We Want to Heal Digestive Distress Worldwide

Gut dysbiosis is no joke &#; and it&#;s on the rise. Around 60 to 70 million people suffer from digestive diseases worldwide. One recent US-based

study

suggests that almost 2 out of 3 people suffer from gut problems.

Our supplements have been trusted by practitioners for decades &#; and best of all, they&#;ve helped hundreds of people remember what life was like before gut symptoms. If you&#;ve tried everything to heal your gut, without any results, then we created Gut+ for you.

I&#;m Ready to Take Charge of My Gut Health

References

Almario, C. V., Ballal, M. L., Chey, W. D., Nordstrom, C., Khanna, D., & Spiegel, B. M. R. (). Burden of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in the United States: Results of a Nationally Representative Survey of Over 71,000 Americans. The American journal of gastroenterology, 113(11), &#;. https://doi.org/10./s-018--8

Liu, H., Wang, J., He, T., Becker, S., Zhang, G., Li, D., & Ma, X. (). Butyrate: A Double-Edged Sword for Health?. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 9(1), 21&#;29. https://doi.org/10./advances/nmx009

Żółkiewicz, J., Marzec, A., Ruszczyński, M., & Feleszko, W. (). Postbiotics-A Step Beyond Pre- and Probiotics. Nutrients, 12(8), . https://doi.org/10./nu

Slavin J. (). Fiber and prebiotics: mechanisms and health benefits. Nutrients, 5(4), &#;. https://doi.org/10./nu

For more information, please visit isobutyric acid manufacturer.

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