Butyric acid is available commercially as a sodium salt, encapsulated to prevent absorption in the upper intestinal tract.

Butyrate has a variety of biological functions which include:-

• Serving as a direct energy source for enterocytes
• Functioning as a ligand for transmembrane receptors
• Modulation of gene activity
• Stimulating peptides that are involved in the immune response
• Reducing intestinal motility and hence passage of ingesta, enhancing digestion of nutrients
• Increasing the secretion of peptides which lead to enhanced proliferation of enterocytes for improved repair of damaged mucosa and increased height of villi.
• Down-regulation of the Salmonella pathogenicity Island 1 (SPI-1) gene expression which reduces colonization of enterocytes.
• Sodium butyrate has a positive effect on the composition of components of the flora that secrete lactic acid in the lower intestinal tract