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3Medicinal

Butyrate

Also sold as Tributyrin, sodium butyrate, calcium magnesium butyrate

A short-chain fatty acid that gut bacteria make from fibre — supplementing it directly is popular, but human evidence is thin.

TrustedSupp Tier System™ · Tier 3Take as a defined course

Evidence strength

20/100Weak
WEAKLIMITEDMODERATESTRONGVERY STRONG

What the evidence supports: symptoms in some small trials in specific bowel conditions.

This scores how well-supported the claim above is — not how much benefit you personally would get. A high score on a narrow claim does not extend to everything the product is marketed for.

How long to take it

Course-based while assessing effect.

Who it's actually for

People with gut symptoms exploring options — eating more fermentable fibre is the better-evidenced route to more butyrate.

Safe upper limit

Unverified
No formal upper limit
Generally well tolerated; the smell is notoriously unpleasant. Sodium butyrate adds sodium.
No source or citation attached yet.

Interactions to know about

No commonly documented medication clashes in our data. That is not the same as none existing.

Run your full list through the interaction check.

Practical notes

  • Your gut bacteria make butyrate from fibre such as oats, beans, and resistant starch.
  • Human trials are small and mostly in specific bowel conditions.
  • Tributyrin is designed to reach the lower gut better than plain butyrate salts.