9. Brain and Nerve Development
There is an undeniable link between gut microbes and the central nervous system. SCFA modulate protein synthesis, reduce oxidative stress, and are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Observed effects of butyrate on brain cells and nerves after stroke (in which both are severely damaged) showed marked enhancement of brain cell proliferation. (30) In fact, “… the metabolism of a high fiber diet in the gut can alter gene expression in the brain to prevent neurodegeneration and promote regeneration,” writes one study. (31)
Taking butyrate before brain injury also improves recovery and cognitive outcomes (). Plus, the nutrient is beneficial in preventing hearing loss as well as damage caused by vascular dementia, spinal muscular atrophy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (32,33,34,35,36)
In addition, butyrate enhances learning and memory by increasing neural plasticity. (37)
10. Cancer
Research has determined that on its own, butyrate inhibits cancer cell proliferation and causes apoptosis (cell death); however, it isn’t robust enough as a cancer treatment. It can, however, be an effective component when combined with other anti-carcinogens. (38) With antioxidant properties and the ability to regulate enzyme function, butyrate also triggers gene activation that depresses cancer cells. (39)
Butyrate is not only created in the human gut but in animals as well. Butter (from where butyrate gets its name) and the cow’s milk it’s made from contains tributyrate, a butyrate derivative. When it comes to its effect on cancer cell apoptosis, tributyrate (also found in honey) is more potent. A remarkable phenomenon is tributyrate’s ability to distinguish cancerous cells from healthy ones. (40, 41)
Alone or in combination with other nutrients, butyrate and its derivatives are effective in killing cancers of the breast, blood, colon, and prostate. In fact, one study found that incidences of colon cancer tumors were reduced by 75% in mice who consumed a high-fiber diet and had healthy levels of butyrate-producing bacteria (42). This is due to the nutrient’s ability to kill cancer cells directly, cut off tumors from nourishment, and stimulate cancer-fighting T cells (43,44).
Cancer researchers are exploring different methods of administering butyrate as treatment, including orally and via intravenous injection. One novel approach is to inject butyrate directly into tumors. (45) You wouldn’t do that with conventional chemotherapy drugs.
11. Cardiovascular Health
Atherosclerosis is better known as “hardening of the arteries”. It occurs when plaque sticks to artery walls, narrowing them and making them less pliable. This is a major contributing factor of stroke and heart attack. Butyrate has been found to slow the progression of this condition by stopping plaque from sticking to artery walls. (46)
12. Cholesterol
SCFA regulate fat metabolism in the intestines. How the body manages blood cholesterol is partly genetic; research has identified nine key genes involved in regulating cholesterol synthesis. Butyrate acts on these genes and down-regulates their expression, which may alter one’s predisposition in how cholesterol is metabolized. (47)
Chronically high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or imbalanced cholesterol in the blood contributes to a variety of serious illness, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.
13. Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Disorders
By way of regulating enzymes that act on amino acids (the building blocks of protein), butyrate promotes the growth of brain tissues, particularly in the hippocampus. This is the part of the brain responsible for emotion. For psychological conditions like bipolar disorder and depression, butyrate has been shown to reduce stress, stabilize mood, and improve memory by up-regulating hippocampus cell activity. (48, 48, 49)