Butyrate

Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and a key postbiotic naturally produced in the human colon when beneficial gut bacteria ferment dietary fibers, such as resistant starch and pectin. While it is technically a lipid, it is often categorized as a supplement for its profound roles in digestive health and systemic signaling. It is the primary fuel source for colonocytes (the cells lining the colon), meeting roughly 70% of their total energy requirements. In supplement form, it is commonly found as sodium butyrate, calcium/magnesium butyrate, or tributyrin, a more bioavailable triglyceride form designed to survive digestion and reach the large intestine.