Butyrate triglyceride (tributyrin)

Table of Contents

Other names

Triglyceride-Form Butyrate
Butyric Acid Triglyceride
Encapsulated Butyrate

Synopsis

Butyrate triglyceride is a dietary fat-based form of butyric acid, where butyrate (a short-chain fatty acid) is chemically bound to glycerol to form a triglyceride. This form enhances oral delivery and absorption of butyrate into the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where it exerts anti-inflammatory, gut-healing, and metabolic effects. Butyrate is naturally produced in the colon by fermentation of dietary fiber by beneficial gut bacteria, but supplemental forms like butyrate triglyceride offer a more targeted and stable delivery for therapeutic use.

Key benefits of butyrate triglyceride include:

  • Supporting gut barrier integrity, reducing intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”)
  • Fueling colonocytes, promoting regeneration of the intestinal lining
  • Modulating inflammation, especially in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis
  • Improving microbiome balance and promoting anti-pathogenic activity
  • Regulating immune responses via cytokine modulation and T-reg cell support
  • Enhancing metabolic function, including insulin sensitivity and fat oxidation

Compared to free butyrate (which has a strong odor and is rapidly absorbed in the upper GI tract), butyrate triglyceride is odorless, more palatable, and protects the butyrate moiety until it reaches the colon, offering targeted delivery and prolonged action.

It is typically found in encapsulated or enteric-coated supplements, sometimes blended with prebiotics or other SCFAs.

Historical and Scientific Context:

While butyrate has been known and studied for decades as a natural postbiotic compound produced by fiber fermentation, the development of butyrate triglyceride as a supplement is a modern advancement in functional and clinical nutrition. It arose from the need to stabilize butyrate for oral delivery and overcome issues related to its taste, smell, and rapid absorption.

In recent years, research has increasingly focused on butyrate's role in:

  • Gut–brain axis modulation
  • Autoimmune conditions
  • Colonic inflammation and epithelial repair
  • Microbiome-mediated therapies

Butyrate triglyceride represents a promising approach for individuals with chronic digestive issues, microbiome imbalances, leaky gut, or immune dysregulation, offering a targeted and bioavailable method to deliver this essential short-chain fatty acid to the colon.

Uses: Health Conditions

Alzheimer's Disease (Scientific)
Autism (Neither)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Neither)
Cancer (prevention) (Scientific)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects) (Scientific)
Celiac Disease (Neither)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (Neither)
Colitis (Scientific)
Crohn's Disease (Scientific)
Diabetes (Scientific)
Diverticulitis (Neither)
Fatty Liver Disease (Scientific)
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders (Scientific)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (Scientific)
Leaky Gut Syndrome (Scientific)
Memory and Brain Function (Neither)
Metabolic Syndrome (Scientific)
Multiple Sclerosis (Neither)
Parkinson's Disease (Scientific)
Psoriasis (Scientific)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (Neither)
Ulcers (Scientific)
Wounds and Sores (Scientific)

Body Systems

Digestive System (Science)
Immune System (Science)
Intestinal System (Science)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Large Intestines (Colon) (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Small Intestines (Traditional)