DavidWolfe.comButyric acid in a short-chain fatty acid that can be found in plant oils and some foods, including butter and ghee. It can also be found in the human body. Butyric acid is formed in the colon through the bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates. Research has shown that butryric acid can help improve digestion and reduce inflammation. Butyric acid health benefits also include the ability to aid in weight loss, combat insulin resistance and even treat colorectal cancer.
Butyric Acid Health Benefits
1. May Help Treat Colorectal Cancer
Research suggests that butyric acid health benefits may include the ability to help treat colorectal cancer by inducing the death of colon cancer cells. In a 2011 study, researchers found that short-chain fatty acids have the ability to suppress tumors, suggesting that butyric acid may play an important role in colon cancer prevention. (1)
2. Relieves Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Butyric acid health benefits include the ability to provide relief from irritable bowel syndrome. Short-chain fatty acids help keep the gut lining healthy, which is key to preventing leaky gut syndrome and IBS symptoms. In a study published in the Gastroenterology Review, researchers concluded that butyric acid supplementation showed promise as a potential therapy for IBS. (2)
3. Aids in Weight Loss
Butyric acid health benefits include the ability to aid in weight loss. Research has shown that short-chain fatty acids work alongside probiotics to play a positive role in gut health. Butyric acid can help prevent metabolic syndrome, which often includes obesity. It works by regulating the balance between the breakdown of fats and fatty acid synthesis. Studies have shown that butyric acid health benefits also include the ability to improve insulin sensitivity and help prevent weight gain.
4. Treats Crohn’s Disease
Butyric acid health benefits include the ability to help treat Crohn’s disease, a type of irritable bowel disease that causes inflammation in the lining of the GI tract. Crohn’s can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and fatigue, among other symptoms. In a 2013 study, researchers found that butyric acid health benefits include the ability to reduce inflammation in the gut and relieve pain during bowel movements, linked to Crohn’s disease.
5. Combats Insulin Resistance
In a 2009 study, researchers found that butyric acid health benefits include the ability to combat insulin resistance. The study concluded that butyric acid was able to treat insulin resistance in mice caused by a high-fat diet. (3)
6. Provides Anti-inflammatory Effects
Butyric acid health benefits include the ability to provide the body with powerful anti-inflammatory effecs. Studies have shown that butyric acid can help reduce inflammation by helping the body manage immune responses, which may be especially beneficial for people who are suffering from inflammatory conditions. (4)