4. Anti-inflammatory
Butyrate supports the immune system by regulating cellular genes involved in an inflammatory response. It decreases inflammatory expression through protein mediation. In addition, oxidative stress is a known cause of inflammation. Butyrate increases antioxidant activity, thereby reducing stress and improving defense mechanisms. (12)
What’s more, butyrate can reverse inflammation and other damage caused by alcohol consumption, support inflammation-blocking cells, and strengthen cellular membranes to keep pathogens at bay (13,14,15).
5. Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease, while osteoarthritis is the result of the physical deterioration of joints and connective tissue. An association between gut inflammation and certain forms of rheumatoid arthritis has been established. It’s known that people with certain forms of autoimmune conditions carry low levels of the bacteria that create butyrate. (16)
IL-6 is a protein that has been identified as contributing to immune response and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Butyrate down-regulates IL-6, thus reducing inflammation. (17)
6. Autism
The causes of autism are complex and not confined to only one factor. What we do know is that the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders has increased in the last forty years from 1:5000 in 1975 to 1:68 in 2015.
Two characteristics associated with autism are repetitive behaviors and difficulty with social communication. A 2016 study explored the use of butyrate to ameliorate these specific behaviors. Because butyrate is an epigenetic regulator (a non-gene substance that affects gene behavior) and enzyme inhibitor, it can influence brain activity and behavior. Excitatory neurotransmitters and activation genes in the prefrontal cortex were affected by the ingestion of a small dose of butyrate, resulting in the lessening of the measured behaviors. (18) Another study found that cognition deficits in mice with autism were also significantly reduced after administration of butyrate. (19)
7. Autoimmune Disorders
This type of disease occurs when the immune system attacks healthy cells, creating a chronic environment of imbalance, sickness, and pain. Butyrate is probiotic, supporting appropriate immune system response.
It has been beneficial in the treatment of:
- Crohn’s disease (20)
- Ulcerative colitis (21)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (22, 23)
- Type 1 diabetes (24)
A lack of adequate SCFA allows other bacteria to proliferate out of control. People with encephalomyelitis (a/k/a multiple sclerosis, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord) or type 1 diabetes, for example, have been shown to have the described gut microbiota imbalance. (25)
To put things in perspective:
“The human intestinal microbial compartment includes at least 1,000 distinct bacterial species, totaling about 1014 bacteria and containing 100-fold more genes than their human host…Most pathogens enter the body throughout the intestinal mucosa, and must be rapidly eliminated by a protective immune response…the intestinal immune system has to discriminate between invasive organisms and harmless antigens, inducing immunological tolerance towards the latter.” (26)
8. Blood Sugar
An imbalance of gut bacteria can lead to “leaky gut”, in which the intestines perforate and leak microbes, toxins, and undigested food into the bloodstream. Intestinal permeability is common in people with type 1 diabetes. (27) As we know, managing blood sugar is imperative with diabetes to prevent the horrible consequences.
Beta cells are responsible for storing and releasing insulin. Butyrate significantly increases beta cell growth and function in diabetics, improves glucose homeostasis by stimulating insulin production, and decreases blood glucose in the event of beta cell dysfunction. (28) A study published in the journal Diabetes found that butyrate improves insulin sensitivity and can even prevent insulin resistance in mice. (29)