Butyric acid is a short-chain fatty acid that provides about 70% of your colon cells’ total energy needs. It may also help treat and prevent certain gut disorders.
Butyric acid is a fatty acid that’s created when the good bacteria in your gut break down dietary fiber.
It’s also found in animal fats and vegetable oils. However, the amount of butyric acid found in foods like butter and ghee is small compared to the amount that’s made in your gut.
While the properties of butyric acid and the role it plays in the gastrointestinal tract have been known for years, scientists are still researching its potential clinical benefits for treating diseases of the gut.
A 2020 study, for example, examined the use of butyric acid supplements to treat and prevent digestive tract disorders, including diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and post-surgical conditions.
This article explores the role of butyric acid in the body, and its proven and potential benefits.
Butyric acid is what’s known as a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA). It’s one of the three most common SCFAs in your gut, along with acetic acid and propionic acid.
These three fatty acids make up between
SCFAs are saturated fatty acids that are created when friendly bacteria break down dietary fiber.
Butyric acid goes by several other names, including butyrate and butanoic acid.
The primary health benefits of butyric acid and other SCFAs are their ability to provide your colon cells with energy. Butyric acid provides your colon cells with about
You’ve likely heard that eating fiber is good for your digestion. Part of the reason why eating more fiber may improve your gut health is that it helps your colon produce more butyric acid.
Research suggests that butyric acid supplements may be used to help treat and prevent certain diseases or disorders of the gut, including:
Treating irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease with butyric acid
Some research, such as this study from 2021, suggests that butyric acid supplements could potentially be used as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease.
In one double-blind, randomized placebo
In
A more recent, 2017 study found that butyric acid provides a protective effect in inflammatory bowel diseases, lowering the risk and severity of colitis.
Treating and preventing colon cancer with butyric acid
Most of the research looking at butyric acid’s ability to prevent or treat colon cancer has been done on animals or isolated cells.
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Researchers suggest a higher intake of dietary fiber, which could increase the amount of butyric acid the gut produces, may help reduce the risk of colon cancer.
However, more human studies are needed to explore this.
Improving insulin sensitivity with butyric acid
People with type 2 diabetes often have
However, at this point, there is limited evidence to suggest that increasing butyric acid in humans has the same effect on insulin sensitivity.
Most of the butyric acid in your body comes from the bacteria in your gut. Increasing your fiber intake may be the best strategy for boosting the amount of butyric acid in your gut.
Even the richest food sources contain relatively little of this fatty acid compared to the amount your gut bacteria create. But you can increase your intake of foods that enhance the production of butyric acid.
Foods that enhance the production of butyric acid
The bacteria in your gut primarily feed on resistant starches your body can’t break down. You can
| Fruits | Vegetables | Grains |
| apples | artichokes | oat bran |
| bananas | asparagus | |
| apricots | potatoes | |
| carrots | ||
| onions |
You can also find resistant starches in carbs that are cooked and then cooled, like:
- oats
- beans
- rice
- potatoes
Foods that contain butyric acid
The amount of butyric acid in food is small compared to the amount your gut bacteria produce. Dietary butyric acid is found in the following foods:
- ghee
- cow’s milk
- butter
- sheep’s milk
- goat’s milk
- breast milk
- parmesan cheese
- red meat
- vegetable oils
- sauerkraut
Butter is one of the best dietary sources of butyric acid. About
Butyric acid supplements
You can also take butyric acid as a supplement. Sodium butyrate is one of the most common supplements.
What is the dosage recommendation for butyric acid supplements?
According to a 2020 study, 150 to 300 milligrams a day is the most common dosage recommendation for currently available butyric acid products.
As with any supplement you’re considering, be sure to discuss the pros and cons of taking butyric acid supplements along with the recommended dosage with a healthcare professional.
There’s limited clinical evidence examining the safety of butyric acid.
In the
However, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you may want to avoid butyric acid supplementation.
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To date, only limited research has been done in humans to fully understand the benefits of butyric acid. However, the research that has been published so far suggests that butyric acid may be beneficial for your digestive health.
Based on what we currently know, the best way to increase this fatty acid in your system is to boost your intake of dietary fiber. Fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains are all excellent sources of fiber.
Other foods like ghee, butter, and milk also contain some butyric acid. However, the levels are low compared to what’s produced when the friendly bacteria in your gut break down and ferment dietary fiber.