Sodium butyrate, a type of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), is gaining recognition for its wide-reaching health benefits. SCFAs are organic compounds produced in the colon when gut bacteria ferment dietary fibres and resistant starches. Butyrate is one of these compounds which plays a vital role in maintaining digestive health. However, research is looking beyond gut health to its benefits in areas such as metabolic wellness and brain health. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the origins of this tiny molecule, how it is produced, and what is sodium butyrate good for in supporting our overall health and wellbeing.
What Is Butyrate?
Butyrate, or butyric acid, is the most extensively studied SCFA due to its implications for gut health and its diverse effects on the body. SCFAs are mainly produced through the fermentation of dietary fibres in the colon by resident gut bacteria. This process involves the breakdown of complex carbohydrates and resistant starches. Good foods that help feed these gut bacteria include certain fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. These fibre-rich foods pass through the digestive system largely undigested until they reach the colon, where they undergo fermentation. This process generates butyrate and other SCFAs, resulting in this metabolic by-product. We can also obtain some butyric acid through the diet, from foods such as butter, ghee, animal fats, and plant oils. However, the amount is small compared with what we can obtain through supplementation, which provides a more concentrated source.
Sodium Butyrate vs Butyric Acid
Sodium butyrate is the sodium salt form of butyric acid. In simple terms, it is a more stable and practical form to use in supplements. Pure butyric acid has a very strong smell and is difficult to handle, whereas sodium butyrate is easier to encapsulate and deliver to the digestive tract. Once consumed, sodium butyrate dissociates in the gut to release butyrate, allowing the body to use it in much the same way as butyrate produced naturally during fibre fermentation.
What Is Sodium Butyrate Good For?
Sodium butyrate, as a source of butyric acid, plays an important role in shaping the diverse community of microorganisms living in our gut, known as the microbiota. It also serves as the main energy source for colonocytes, the cells lining the colon, and helps regulate gut motility. Butyrate has been studied in relation to its anti-inflammatory effects in the gut and connection to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Other areas gaining wider exploration include those for metabolic wellness and insulin sensitivity, as well as brain health through the gut-brain axis.
Sodium Butyrate Benefits for Gut Health
Sodium butyrate is widely recognised for its benefits to gut health, particularly intestinal barrier function, microbiome and bacterial diversity, and its anti-inflammatory effects in the digestive tract. This next section explores these areas in more detail and looks at how to support a healthier gut environment.
Supporting the Gut Lining and Intestinal Barrier
Butyrate provides a vital source of energy for the specialised cells lining the colon and accounts for up to 80% of their energy requirements. It also helps support the proteins that keep the intestinal cells closely together, also known as tight junctions. By fuelling their metabolic demands, butyrate plays an essential role in maintaining the structural integrity of the gut barrier. As these structures regulate what can pass from the gut to the bloodstream, maintaining this barrier helps fortify its defences. A strong intestinal barrier is essential for protecting against conditions like “leaky gut,” or gut permeability, which can contribute to systemic inflammation and chronic health issues. This function is increasingly recognised as an important factor in overall digestive and immune health.
Anti-inflammatory Effects in the Digestive Tract
Beyond its role in providing energy to the cells in the colon, butyrate has been studied in relation to its immune-modulating effects in the gut. It has been shown to influence inflammatory pathways and may help promote a more balanced immune response. This may help dampen excessive inflammation in the gut. This anti-inflammatory action has been explored in relation to IBD, where an overactive immune response and chronic inflammation can contribute to tissue damage and clinical symptoms. A small 2005 study published in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics found that oral butyrate is safe and well-tolerated and may be a supportive approach for Crohn’s disease [1]. A scientific article published in Gastroenterology Review looked at butyric acid’s potential for IBS based on numerous studies. Researchers conclude that butyrate supplementation may be promising for symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and irregular bowel habits [2].
Supporting a Healthy Gut Microbiome
Short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, play an important role in influencing the diversity of our gut microorganisms. Referred to as the microbiome, it is host to trillions of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other organisms that exist in our bodies and which affect various aspects of our health. Research shows that SCFAs act as signalling molecules, communicating with the gut microbiota and influencing its composition and function. Short-chain fatty acids link diet, the gut microbiome and immune function, acting as key signalling molecules in individual health and internal balance. Butyrate promotes the growth and proliferation of beneficial bacteria, including species known for their health-promoting properties, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. It provides them with a favourable energy source and creates an environment which helps their survival. Promoting the growth of the beneficial microbes supports a diverse and balanced microbiome.
Gut Motility and Digestive Comfort
Butyrate in the gut is pivotal to the process which enables the movement of food and waste through the intestines, known as gut motility or peristalsis. It has been studied for its role in supporting smooth muscle contractions, which help promote regular bowel movements. Balanced butyrate levels are essential to this process, which allows a transit time that is neither sluggish nor rapid. It also supports nutrient absorption and waste elimination. When the gut lining is supported and inflammation is lower, digestion tends to feel smoother and more predictable. Therefore, butyrate may contribute to a calmer overall digestive environment.
Sodium Butyrate and Metabolic Health
Metabolism is the body’s process of producing and using energy, and the gut plays a role in this. Butyrate acts as a signalling molecule and connects gut health with metabolism. This section will take a closer look at this link and how butyrate influences these pathways.
Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Regulation
SCFAs, such as butyrate, have been studied for their role in metabolic regulation and insulin sensitivity, with growing interest in how gut-derived compounds influence these processes. Research suggests that butyrate may play a role in the signalling pathways that help the body respond appropriately to insulin. This appears to be linked to its ability to support gut health, reduce low-grade inflammation and influence communication between the gut and other tissues involved in glucose metabolism. A 2009 study published by the American Diabetes Association examined the effects of butyrate supplementation in mice on a high-fat diet. The study noted that mice given butyrate did not experience increased body fat or excessive weight gain, but observed improved markers of insulin sensitivity and energy expenditure [4]. However, this animal study was preclinical and not directly transferable to humans. While this area of research is still evolving, it highlights the close relationship between the gut environment and metabolism, and why gut health is increasingly viewed as an important baseline for metabolic wellbeing.
Energy Metabolism and Mitochondrial Function
Research suggests that butyrate may play a role in underlying metabolic pathways and in how the body converts nutrients into energy at the cellular level. This is particularly through its interactions with mitochondria, the energy-producing parts within cells. Research also suggests that it may influence energy balance and appetite regulation. Studies show that butyrate may stimulate the release of gut hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), involved in appetite signalling and feelings of fullness [3].
The Connection Between the Gut and Metabolism
While we generally consider the gut’s role in digestion, it is clear that it is also involved in wider processes relating to energy use and metabolism. Compounds produced by gut bacteria, including butyrate, act as signalling molecules in these pathways, linking the gut environment with broader metabolic processes. When gut health is supported and low-grade inflammation is kept in check, these signalling pathways are better able to function as intended.
Sodium Butyrate and Brain Health
There is a close connection between the gut and the brain, known as the gut-brain axis. Further benefits of supporting digestive health may also be relevant to neurological function. A growing body of research suggests that butyrate may influence brain health by supporting gut barrier function, reducing inflammation, and contributing to a balanced immune system. These factors are thought to play an essential role in maintaining normal brain function, as chronic inflammation and gut permeability have both been linked to changes in mood, cognition and neurological health. While much of this research is still emerging, it reinforces the idea that a healthy gut environment may help support brain health over time.
The Gut–Brain Axis
The gut and brain are constantly communicating via the vagus nerve, immune messengers and metabolic by-products produced by gut bacteria. Butyrate is one such compound that may act as a signalling molecule within this system by helping to relay information from the gut to the central nervous system. This explains why changes in gut health can sometimes be reflected in mental and cognitive wellbeing, and vice versa.
Inflammation, Neuroprotection and Brain Function
Brain health is challenged by factors such as inflammation, whether low-grade or more chronic. By supporting a more balanced gut environment, butyrate may contribute to normal brain function. This active area of research is exploring how it may help long-term mental health and wellbeing.
Final Thoughts
Sodium butyrate is gaining attention not as a standalone solution, but as part of a broader understanding of how gut health influences the body as a whole. As a short-chain fatty acid produced through the fermentation of dietary fibre, its action connects digestive health, metabolism, as well as emerging research into brain health. It has many roles, including supporting the gut lining and helping regulate inflammation and cellular signalling between the gut and other body systems. This highlights the importance of ensuring a healthy gut environment. While much of the research is ongoing, focusing on gut health remains one of the key foundations of our overall health and wellbeing. Whether through dietary intake or targeted supplementation, sodium butyrate may be a key player in regulating this delicate environment. To read more on supporting the gut, you can see our article Supporting The Gut: 6 Easy Ways to Optimise Your Gut Microbiome here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sodium Butyrate
What is sodium butyrate good for?
Sodium butyrate is best known for its role in gut health. It provides an important energy source for cells lining the colon and has been studied for its influence on gut barrier function, inflammation and microbiome balance. Emerging research is also exploring its wider relevance to metabolic and brain health via gut-derived signalling pathways.
Is sodium butyrate the same as butyric acid?
They are closely related but not identical. Butyric acid is the active short-chain fatty acid produced naturally in the gut when dietary fibre is fermented. Sodium butyrate is the salt form of butyric acid, which is more stable and commonly used in supplements. Once consumed, it releases butyrate in the gut.
Can you get butyrate from food?
Yes. Butyrate is primarily produced in the body when gut bacteria ferment fibre and resistant starch from foods such as vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Small amounts of butyric acid are also found in foods like butter and ghee, although these contribute far less than fermentation in the colon.
What is the difference between sodium butyrate and probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that add to the population of bacteria in the gut. Sodium butyrate does not introduce bacteria but instead provides a compound that supports gut cells and helps create an environment in which beneficial bacteria can thrive. The two are often discussed as complementary rather than interchangeable.
Is sodium butyrate good for the gut microbiome?
Sodium butyrate has been studied for its role in supporting a healthy gut environment. Butyrate acts as a signalling molecule and helps maintain conditions that favour microbial diversity and balance. A healthy microbiome, in turn, supports digestion, immune function and metabolic health.
Does sodium butyrate affect brain health?
Research into the gut–brain axis suggests that gut-derived compounds, including butyrate, may indirectly influence brain health. By supporting gut barrier integrity and helping regulate inflammation, sodium butyrate is being explored in relation to normal brain function. This remains an active area of research.
Is sodium butyrate safe to take?
Sodium butyrate has been widely studied for its safety and tolerability profile. As with any supplement, results can vary between individuals, and it is always advisable to follow product guidance or consult a healthcare professional if you have an existing medical condition.
Who might consider sodium butyrate supplementation?
Supplementation may be helpful for indivuduals following a low-fibre diet, where there may be a period of digestive imbalance or following antibiotic use. It is also helpful to support long-term digestive and overall wellbeing.
References
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16225487/
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4027835/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4564526/
[4] https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/58/7/1509/15689/Butyrate-Improves-Insulin-Sensitivity-and
