Butyrate is a crucial short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by friendly intestinal microbes to help you and your gut stay healthy. Feeding these microbes the right nutrients is the secret behind the production of this supermolecule. This powerful SCFA is involved in many mechanisms which are essential in regulating gut inflammation, immunity as well as metabolic function.
Premium fuel
Unlike most cells in our body that have a sweet tooth for sugar, the lining cells in the gut are greedy for butyrate. This premium fuel provides the lining cells with up to 90% of their energy. Moreover, when butyrate is absorbed in the gut, oxygen molecules are consumed, promoting an ideal environment for the growth of beneficial microorganisms.
Several in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the involvement of butyrate in processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and gene expression. In other words, butyrate helps control the growth of cells lining the gut, to make sure there's a good balance between old cells dying and new cells being formed for an optimal epithelium repair.
Mighty fortress in the gut
A functioning intestinal barrier is the first line of defence of the gut. Protein complexes called tight junctions regulate the permeability of the barrier, thus controlling the diffusion of water, ions, and nutrients whilst restricting pathogen and toxins entry.
Butyrate activates specific cellular pathways which result in a greater production of tight junctions, hence building a real fortress in the intestine. Sounds cool right? And there is even more: butyrate is also involved in the production of antimicrobial peptides, cellular weapons against the pathogenic microbes.
MicrobiomeX®
BioActor developed MicrobiomeX®: a citrus fruit extract standardized for hesperidin and naringin. The prebiotic and anti-inflammatory effects of MicrobiomeX® have been tested in in vivo and in vitro studies. This innovative ingredient has proven to increase the production of butyrate by inducing a positive shift in the microbiome composition.
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Seppic Nutrition team