What exactly is Butyrate?
Butyrate is a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) that has been combined with calcium & magnesium. It is made in the lower colon by bacteria and taken up by the colonocytes, the cells that line the colon. It then becomes an important food for those cells. Lacking good bacteria in our colon, such as when we take antibiotics, can lead to an insufficient supply of butyrate.

What is Butyrate used for?
Butyrate scrubs & cleans the liver, the gall bladder and the biliary tree. It also cleans the bowel, controls ammonia, removes ‘renegade’ fats (the very long ones that accumulate with age) and lowers the expression of inflammatory immune markers called cytokines.

Can Sodium Butyrate be taken on an empty stomach?
We have never heard of any problems taking Butyrate on an empty stomach.

Are there any side effects from taking Sodium Butyrate?
None to our knowledge.

How would a person know if they should take Sodium Butyrate?
Butyrate is used in a wide array of neurological disorders. The research reports its ability to elevate cellular enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase and insufficient sodium and chloride levels. However these are analytes (cellular enzymes or electrolytes) from a blood test which many individuals have done yearly. It’s difficult to pin point when you may need Butyrate, however, your health care practitioner (HCP) should be able to assist you.

Why would one take Sodium Butyrate instead of plain Butyrate? Vise Versa?
Calcium-Magnesium Butyrate is the most popular since we all seem to be in need of those two electrolytes. However, there are some who are Sodium deficient. Your HCP could certainly assist those that may fall into that category.