6 Health Benefits of Butyric Acid!
Butyric acid , also known as butanoic acid or BTA, is a short-chain saturated fatty acid found in butter, raw milk, animal fats, and vegetable oils . It is also produced and therefore found in our colons through bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates as dietary fiber.
Butyric acid supports the health and healing of small and large intestine cells. It is also the preferred source of fuel for the cells lining the interior of the large intestine or colon. The BTA content in clarified butter is one of the key components that provide all these wonderful benefits of this product.
Consumption of butyric acid in foods such as clarified butter or in the form of supplements has been shown to aid digestion, relieve inflammation, and improve the body’s gastrointestinal health. People suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease have benefited from butyric acid , and the studies show promise when it comes to diabetes and insulin resistance as well.
BTA is also known as a potential anticancer fatty acid, especially when it comes to colon cancer . I’m happy to tell you more about this extremely interesting fatty acid and how it can improve your body’s health!
What is butyric acid?
Butyric acid is a colorless liquid that is soluble in water and 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. Together with acetic and propionic acids, it accounts for approximately 83% of short-chain fatty acids in the human colon.
Health benefits of butyric acid:
1. Helps lose weight:
Butanoic acid gained popularity for its ability to possibly help people lose unwanted weight. Scientific evidence has shown that obese people (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.
2. Prevent colorectal cancer:
Several studies have shown the ability of butyric acid to fight cancer, especially colon cancer. In fact, the ability to “modify the nuclear architecture” and induce the death of colon cancer cells has been found.
This is likely a huge reason why increased fiber consumption has been linked to less colon cancer, as consuming more fiber can equate to more butyric acid present in the colon.
3. Treating irritable bowel syndrome:
Overall, butyric acid can have a very positive impact on gut health, which affects the health of the entire body. Short chain fatty acids, and can keep the gut healthy and sealed, which prevents leaky gut syndrome and all sorts of problems linked to a leaky gut like IBS symptoms. This is a type of digestive disorder that is characterized by a group of common symptoms, including changes in bowel movements and abdominal pain.
4. Treating Crohn’s Disease:
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by inflammation of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue , weight loss, and malnutrition. Again, this is a disease related to a leaky gut. A 2005 study was small, but found that “oral butyrate is safe and well tolerated, and may be effective in inducing clinical improvement/remission in Crohn’s disease. “
5. Combat Insulin Resistance:
A 2009 study looked at the effect of butyric acid on regulating insulin sensitivity in rats that consumed a high-fat diet. The study concluded that “dietary butyrate supplementation can prevent and treat diet-induced insulin resistance in rats.” The researchers also found that the butyrate-treated mice had no increase in body fat, and the butyrate supplement actually appeared to prevent obesity.
6. Anti-inflammatories:
Studies have shown the broad anti-inflammatory powers of butyric acid . It is believed that BTA can not only help with inflammatory issues, but may also have a useful ability to control immune responses.
As I said before, inflammation is at the root of most diseases , which is why having more butyric acid in your body would likely benefit many people with various health issues with inflammatory roots.
How to find information about butyric acid and dosage?
An increase in the consumption of highly processed, low-fiber, and high-sugar foods has been shown to decrease levels of butyrate production in the large intestine. Also, supplementing with butyric acid can be a good idea if you can’t get enough of it in your diet .
Side effects of butyric acid:
It is difficult to find any documented negative side effects of butyric acid supplements . If you take it and experience any negative side effects, you may need to reduce your dosage. Of course, if you have any serious side effects then you should discontinue use and seek immediate medical attention.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to your doctor before taking a butyric acid supplement . Also talk to your doctor if you have any medical conditions or are already taking other medications before taking a BTA supplement.