Research
Butyrate
30 peer-reviewed studies curated from PubMed and Semantic Scholar.
Studies
Sorted by quality and recency
From gut to glee: Is butyrate a promising antidepressant? A systematic review and mechanistic insights.
Systematic review of the effects of butyrate on depressive symptoms in humans and depressive-like behavior in animals. One RCT found no effect in healthy males, while another found reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms in ulcerative colitis patients. Thirty-two animal studies showed butyrate modulated depressive- and anxiety-like phenotypes, suggesting potential therapeutic promise.
Therapeutic and Immunologic Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review.
Systematic review synthesizing evidence on the therapeutic use of short-chain fatty acids, particularly butyrate, in the immune regulation of inflammatory bowel disease. The review highlights the role of these acids in regulating intestinal inflammation and their potential as a therapeutic strategy.
Exploring the Potential of Oral Butyrate Supplementation in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Subgroup Insights from an Interventional Study.
This randomized clinical trial investigated the effects of sodium butyrate and calcium butyrate supplementation in 181 patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). While there were no significant changes in liver steatosis as measured by CAP, sodium butyrate reduced serum trimethylamine N-oxide and fatty liver index, and calcium butyrate decreased fecal calprotectin levels. The study suggests potential benefits for specific subgroups of patients with MASLD.
Butyrate improves handgrip strength and physical performance by reducing intestinal leak in post-menopausal women, a randomized controlled trial.
RCT investigating the effects of sodium butyrate on skeletal muscle and physical capacity in post-menopausal women. Butyrate reduced plasma zonulin and LBP levels, improved handgrip strength and SPPB scores, and modestly improved respiratory muscle strength while reducing systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.
Impact of oral butyrate on clinical and biochemical parameters in IBD: A randomized placebo-controlled study targeting gut microbiota.
RCT of 140 IBD patients assessing the effects of Butyrate-Lsc-Microincapsulated (BLM) supplementation on microbiome composition and disease activity. BLM improved clinical disease activity and quality of life in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis patients, with significant improvements in clinical disease activity and fecal calprotectin in Crohn's disease.
Oral butyrate improves postural balance by repairing leaky gut in geriatric adults.
RCT investigating the effects of butyrate supplementation on postural imbalance and intestinal leak in older adults. Butyrate supplementation improved handgrip strength, gait speed, and reduced plasma zonulin and LBP levels, indicating improved gut health and physical performance.
Butyrate (short-chain fatty acid) alleviates lipopolysaccharide-binding proteins and improves physical function in knee osteoarthritis patients.
Double-blind RCT with 112 knee osteoarthritis patients, 52 receiving 300 mg butyrate daily for 12 weeks. Butyrate improved handgrip strength, walking speed, Oxford knee scores, and short physical performance battery scores. It also lowered blood levels of zonulin, LBP, and CRP, indicating improved gut health and reduced inflammation.
Oral Peanut Immunotherapy With Butyrate Adjuvant (OPIA) in Children: A Randomised, Controlled Trial.
RCT assessing the efficacy and safety of adding daily oral butyrate to peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) in peanut allergic children. The study found that butyrate was well tolerated but did not enhance sustained unresponsiveness rate compared to placebo.
Gut Butyrate Reduction in Blood Pressure Is Associated with Other Vegetables, Whole Fruit, Total Grains, and Sodium Intake.
RCT involving African Americans with hypertension assessing the impact of butyrate enema on blood pressure changes. The study found correlations between dietary intake of vegetables, grains, and blood pressure measures, suggesting diet impacts BP in response to increased gut butyrate.
A Sustained-Release Butyrate Tablet Suppresses Ex Vivo T Helper Cell Activation of Osteoarthritis Patients in a Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial.
A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial studied the effects of sustained-release butyrate tablets on systemic inflammation and immune function in hand osteoarthritis patients. Butyrate treatment reduced the percentage of activated T helper cells and the Th17/Treg ratio, but did not affect serum markers or cytokine release. The study suggests some immunomodulatory effects of butyrate in reducing the inflammatory phenotype of Th cells.
Increases in Circulating and Fecal Butyrate are Associated With Reduced Blood Pressure and Hypertension: Results From the SPIRIT Trial.
The SPIRIT trial investigated the association of circulating and fecal butyrate with blood pressure in 121 adult cancer survivors. Increased serum or fecal butyrate was associated with lowered blood pressure, suggesting butyrate as a potential target for blood pressure-lowering interventions.
Therapeutic Effects of Butyrate on Pediatric Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
A randomized, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of oral butyrate supplementation in treating pediatric obesity. The study found that children treated with butyrate had a higher rate of BMI decrease and improvements in waist circumference, insulin levels, HOMA-IR, ghrelin levels, microRNA-221 expression, and IL-6 levels compared to the placebo group.
Effects of oral butyrate and inulin supplementation on inflammation-induced pyroptosis pathway in type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
RCT involving 60 patients with type 2 diabetes to assess the effects of sodium butyrate and inulin supplementation on pyroptosis-related gene expression and oxidative stress biomarkers. Butyrate supplementation downregulated inflammatory gene expression and increased antioxidant capacity, suggesting potential benefits in managing diabetes-related inflammation.
Acute effects of butyrate on intestinal permeability in patients with irritable bowel syndrome assessed by a novel colonoscopy research model.
This study investigated the effects of acute butyrate exposure on intestinal barrier function in IBS patients and healthy subjects using a colonoscopy-perfusion model. Butyrate exposure significantly alleviated DC-induced transcellular hyperpermeability in IBS patients, suggesting its potential role in IBS treatment strategies.
Effect of Acute Gut Butyrate Delivery on Blood Pressure in Black Individuals With Hypertension: A Proof-of-Concept Randomized Controlled Study.
This proof-of-concept RCT studied the effect of acute gut butyrate delivery on blood pressure in 20 Black adults, including those with stage 1 hypertension. The study found that a high dose butyrate enema significantly lowered daytime systolic blood pressure, suggesting that increasing gut butyrate availability can improve blood pressure regulation.
Phenylalanine Butyramide: A Butyrate Derivative as a Novel Inhibitor of Tyrosinase
The study evaluated phenylalanine butyramide (PBA), a butyrate derivative, as an inhibitor of tyrosinase and its effects on skin health. In vitro assays showed PBA inhibited mushroom tyrosinase. A clinical trial with 43 women showed PBA significantly improved skin depigmentation, brightness, elasticity, and firmness compared to placebo.
Effects of Oral Butyrate on Blood Pressure in Patients With Hypertension: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial with 23 hypertensive patients assessed the effect of oral butyrate on blood pressure. Over 4 weeks, butyrate intake increased daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to placebo, indicating a negative effect on hypertension.
The effects of butyrate supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profile, blood pressure, nitric oxide level and glutathione peroxidase activity in type 2 diabetic patients: A randomized triple -blind, placebo-controlled trial.
This randomized triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effects of oral butyrate supplementation on metabolic parameters, blood pressure, and oxidative stress indices in 42 type 2 diabetic patients. Butyrate significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure and decreased blood sugar 2-hr postprandial within groups, but increased total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and insulin levels, while decreasing nitric oxide levels. No significant between-group differences were observed.
Oral butyrate does not affect innate immunity and islet autoimmunity in individuals with longstanding type 1 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial.
A randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of oral butyrate supplementation on glucose regulation and immune variables in 30 individuals with longstanding type 1 diabetes. The study found that while faecal butyrate and propionate levels were significantly affected, there were no significant changes in innate or adaptive immunity or other outcome variables.
Infusion of donor feces affects the gut-brain axis in humans with metabolic syndrome.
RCT comparing the effect of fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) from post-RYGB donors versus oral butyrate supplementation on brain dopamine transporter (DAT) and serotonin transporter (SERT) binding, as well as insulin sensitivity in 24 metabolic syndrome subjects. FMT increased brain DAT compared to butyrate, which reduced binding. No effect on body weight and insulin sensitivity was observed.
Effect of butyric acid on the performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens.
Two studies tested the efficacy of butyric acid on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. In experiment 1, butyric acid decreased feed intake at 0.4% but had no effect on body weight gain. In experiment 2, 0.2% butyric acid increased carcass weight and breast meat yield. Birds receiving butyric acid before a coccidial challenge showed higher growth rates post-challenge.
Topical butyrate improves efficacy of 5-ASA in refractory distal ulcerative colitis: results of a multicentre trial.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre RCT of 51 patients with refractory distal ulcerative colitis comparing topical 5-ASA with sodium-butyrate to 5-ASA with saline. The butyrate group showed significant improvements in remission rates, bowel movements, urgency, and self-evaluation compared to the control group.
Hepatic Uptake of Rectally Administered Butyrate Prevents an Increase in Systemic Butyrate Concentrations in Humans.
This randomized placebo-controlled trial investigated the effect of rectal butyrate administration on SCFA interorgan exchange in 12 patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery. Rectal butyrate administration led to higher portal butyrate concentrations and greater gut release and liver uptake of butyrate compared to placebo, preventing an increase in systemic butyrate concentrations.
Combined butyric acid/mesalazine treatment in ulcerative colitis with mild-moderate activity. Results of a multicentre pilot study.
An open study conducted by 19 Italian Gastrointestinal Units evaluated the efficacy of butyric acid and mesalazine in reducing relapse of mild to moderate ulcerative colitis in 216 patients. The addition of ZACOL-MNX tablets was effective in reducing disease activity, improving symptoms, and the endoscopic appearance of mucosa.
Butyrate modulates oxidative stress in the colonic mucosa of healthy humans.
A randomized, double-blind, cross-over study with 16 healthy volunteers evaluated the effect of rectal administration of sodium butyrate on oxidative stress in the colonic mucosa. Butyrate treatment resulted in significantly higher GSH and lower uric acid concentrations, indicating a beneficial effect on oxidative stress in the colon.
Butyrylatedstarch relieves atopic dermatitis through gut-skin axis modulationcolon-targeted delivery.
The study synthesized butyrylated starch (BSGS) for colon-targeted delivery to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) by modulating the gut-skin axis. In AD mice, BSGS administration reduced cutaneous inflammation, lowered serum proinflammatory cytokines, and improved gut microbiota composition, demonstrating its potential as a butyrate donor for AD treatment.
Treatment of left-sided ulcerative colitis with butyrate enemas: a controlled trial.
RCT of 38 patients with distal ulcerative colitis comparing nightly butyrate enemas to saline/placebo. Clinical improvement was noted in 37% of butyrate-treated patients and 47% of placebo-treated patients, with no significant difference between groups. No toxicity was observed.
Butyrate: A potential mediator of obesity and microbiome via different mechanisms of actions.
This narrative review discusses butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut microbial fermentation, and its potential role in obesity and metabolic processes. It highlights butyrate's mechanisms of action, including HDAC inhibition and GPCR signaling, and its effects on gut health, energy metabolism, and the gut-brain axis. The review emphasizes the need for further research to understand butyrate's therapeutic potential and clinical applications.
Efficacy of the dietary histone deacetylase inhibitor butyrate alone or in combination with vitamin A against proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells
The study investigated the effects of butyrate, a dietary histone deacetylase inhibitor, alone or combined with vitamin A on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Butyrate alone inhibited cell proliferation by 34%, while the combination with vitamin A inhibited proliferation by 46%. Butyrate increased histone H3K9 acetylation and expression levels of p21WAF1 and RARβ, suggesting potential epigenetic strategies for cancer control.
Treatment of refractory ulcerative proctosigmoiditis with butyrate enemas.
Open-label study of 10 patients with refractory distal ulcerative colitis treated with nightly butyrate enemas. Six patients responded to therapy, with four achieving complete responses. The mean disease activity score decreased significantly.