Description

Butyrate is a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) that has been combined with calcium & magnesium. It is made in the colon by bacteria and taken up by the colonocytes, the cells that line the colon. It then becomes an important food for those cells. Lacking good bacteria in our colon, such as when we take antibiotics, can lead to an insufficient supply of butyrate.

Butyric acid has numerous biological properties. Long recognised for its ability to help probiotic strains adhere to the intestinal lining, butyric acid also helps to increase the natural healing mechanism of gut tissue. It is a prime energy source for cells of the colon and may play an anti-inflammatory role.

Low concentrations of butyrate are frequently found in the colons of patients with inflammatory bowel disorders. Additionally, persons consuming low carbohydrate diets also tend to have low butyrate levels. Recent studies are exploring butyric acid’s immunological effects; chemopreventive properties have been noted in some studies, and of particular interest is research about butyric acid’s role in the desensitisation of the gastrointestinal tract from food allergies and sensitivities.