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Research · Supplements

Butyrate

Small trials of oral sodium butyrate added to standard ulcerative colitis treatment report more remission and lower disease scores than placebo. A review of butyrate enemas found no difference in disease activity in most trials. A trial in children with newly diagnosed bowel disease found no difference. IBS trials are small and mixed. Few harms were reported.

Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-09
Status
Dietary supplement in the US. Not approved by the FDA as a drug for any use.
Also called
sodium butyrate, microencapsulated sodium butyrate, MSB, tributyrin, calcium butyrate, magnesium butyrate, butyric acid, short-chain fatty acid, SCFA
Taken for
gut health, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, IBS, bloating, inflammation

Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on

Shown to help4

Reported risks0

No risks sourced yet.

What people take it for, and what was found

Shown to help4

Moderate

Ulcerative colitis, oral butyrate

Shown to improve remission and disease activity when oral butyrate is added to standard therapy in adults with ulcerative colitis, in small, short trials.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 98 adults with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis, microencapsulated sodium butyrate 300 mg twice a day for 8 weeks, added to standard therapy, gave clinical improvement in 51% (P 0.005), clinical remission in 31.4% (P 0.004) and fecal calprotectin remission in 42.2% (P 0.009) in the butyrate group [1]. In 36 adults with active disease, 12 weeks of sodium butyrate lowered the partial Mayo score (-2.33 against 0.22 on placebo, p < 0.001) and ESR [2]. A systematic review of 10 clinical trials and one observational study found oral, mostly microencapsulated, butyrate added to standard therapy improved remission, disease activity and inflammatory markers in adults [3].
Population
Adults with active ulcerative colitis on standard treatment [1][2][3].
Sources
[1], [2], [3]
Caveats
The 98-patient abstract gives rates for the butyrate group and P values, not the placebo rates [1]. The review calls the clinical evidence heterogeneous [3]. Trials were small and short.
Limited

Crohn's disease

One trial found Crohn's activity improved after oral butyrate, but the abstract does not compare it with placebo.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In a trial of 140 patients with bowel disease (60 with Crohn's disease) randomized to oral microencapsulated butyrate or placebo with standard therapy, Crohn's disease activity (p 0.013), fecal calprotectin (p 0.047) and quality of life (p < 0.001) improved after supplementation [6].
Population
60 adults with Crohn's disease and 80 with ulcerative colitis, Italy [6].
Sources
[6]
Caveats
The abstract reports change after supplementation and does not give the comparison with placebo [6]. A review of enema trials found no reliable data for Crohn's disease [4].
Limited

Irritable bowel syndrome

Small trials found butyrate eased some IBS symptoms, such as pain with bowel movements or abdominal pain, in adults and children.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 66 adults with IBS on standard therapy, microencapsulated sodium butyrate reduced pain during defecation at 4 weeks and urgency and bowel habit problems at 12 weeks. Abdominal pain, flatulence and symptom severity did not change significantly [8]. In 51 children aged 4 to 17, calcium butyrate 500 mg a day for 8 weeks gave a 50% or greater pain score reduction in 73% against 3.8% on placebo (p < 0.0001) [9]. In 52 people with type 2 diabetes and IBS, 1.5 g a day for 12 weeks reduced abdominal pain, diarrhea and bloating, with no change on placebo [10].
Population
Adults with IBS [8]. Children with IBS [9]. Adults with type 2 diabetes and IBS [10].
Sources
[8], [9], [10]
Caveats
Three small trials in different groups. The diabetes trial was registered after it was done [10]. A trial of butyrate mixed with probiotics and fructooligosaccharides cannot separate the butyrate effect [11].
Limited

Gut health in people without bowel disease

Small trials of butyrate enemas in healthy volunteers found lower gut pain sensitivity and changes in colon antioxidant markers. No trial of oral butyrate in healthy people was located.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 11 healthy volunteers, a week of nightly butyrate enemas lowered pain, urge and discomfort during rectal balloon stretching, with pain scores 23.9% lower at 50 mmol/L and 42.1% lower at 100 mmol/L than on saline at low pressure [12]. In 16 healthy volunteers, 2 weeks of daily 100 mM butyrate enemas raised glutathione (p < 0.05) and lowered uric acid (p < 0.01) in colon biopsies against saline. CRP, calprotectin, a gut damage marker and inflammation scores on histology did not differ [13].
Population
11 healthy adults in a crossover trial [12]. 16 healthy adults in a crossover trial [13].
Sources
[12], [13]
Caveats
Both trials gave butyrate into the rectum, not by mouth as supplements are sold. They were small and short, and measured markers and sensitivity, not symptoms in daily life [12][13].

Not shown to help2

Moderate

Ulcerative colitis, butyrate enemas

Not shown to change disease activity or endoscopic scores in most trials of butyrate enemas for ulcerative colitis. One trial found benefit added to 5-ASA.

The numbers and sources
Effect
A systematic review of 8 RCTs (227 patients) found only one study with a significant difference in disease activity. Endoscopic and histological scores did not differ from controls [4]. In 51 patients with distal colitis not responding to treatment, butyrate enemas added to 5-ASA enemas for 6 weeks gave 6 remissions and 12 improvements against 1 remission and 13 improvements on 5-ASA with saline (P < 0.05) [5].
Population
Adults with ulcerative colitis [4][5].
Sources
[4], [5]
Caveats
The 51-patient trial tested butyrate added to 5-ASA [5]. The review found no reliable enema data for Crohn's disease [4].
Limited

Inflammatory bowel disease in children

One trial found butyrate added to standard therapy did not change remission or disease activity in 72 children with newly diagnosed bowel disease.

The numbers and sources
Effect
In 72 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 with newly diagnosed colonic Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, sodium butyrate 150 mg twice a day for 12 weeks with standard therapy did not change remission rate (p 0.37) or disease activity (p 0.31) against placebo [7].
Population
29 on butyrate and 43 on placebo completed the trial, Poland [7].
Sources
[7]
Caveats
Most patients in both groups reached remission on standard therapy [7].

Doses studied

Ulcerative colitis trials gave microencapsulated sodium butyrate 300 mg twice a day for 8 weeks [1]. The children's bowel disease trial gave 150 mg twice a day for 12 weeks [7]. IBS trials gave calcium butyrate 500 mg a day for 8 weeks [9] and microencapsulated sodium butyrate 1.5 g a day for 12 weeks [10]. The enema trial used 80 mM sodium butyrate twice a day for 6 weeks [5].

Risks

Checked, no increase found1

Limited

Side effects in trials

Limited evidence: no adverse events were reported in a trial of 72 children, though most trial abstracts do not report harms.

The numbers and sources
Effect
None of the 72 children in the bowel disease trial reported adverse events [7]. A 12-week IBS trial of butyrate with probiotics reported it as well tolerated [11].
Population
Trial participants [7][11].
Sources
[7], [11]
Caveats
Most abstracts do not report harms. Trials were small and lasted 6 to 12 weeks.

Claims tested and not found

  1. That butyrate enemas improve ulcerative colitis. Only one of 8 RCTs found a difference in disease activity, and endoscopic and histological scores did not differ [4].
  2. That butyrate helps children with newly diagnosed bowel disease. Remission and disease activity did not differ from placebo after 12 weeks [7].

Sources

  1. Karłowicz K, Lewandowski K, Kaniewska MA, et al. Efficacy of Microencapsulated Sodium Butyrate as Add-On Therapy in Inducing Remission in Patients with Mild-To-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: Results From a Multi-Center, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Medical Science Monitor. 2025. https://doi.org/10.12659/msm.948912
  2. Firoozi D, Masoumi SJ, Mohammad-Kazem Hosseini Asl S, et al. Effects of Short Chain Fatty Acid-Butyrate Supplementation on the Disease Severity, Inflammation, and Psychological Factors in Patients With Active Ulcerative Colitis: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1155/jnme/3165876
  3. Golea GI, Ilieș RA, Caziuc A, et al. Sodium Butyrate Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence. Medical Sciences. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci14040469
  4. Jamka M, Kokot M, Kaczmarek N, et al. The Effect of Sodium Butyrate Enemas Compared with Placebo on Disease Activity, Endoscopic Scores, and Histological and Inflammatory Parameters in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials. Complementary Medicine Research. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1159/000512952
  5. Vernia P, Annese V, Bresci G, et al. Topical butyrate improves efficacy of 5-ASA in refractory distal ulcerative colitis: results of a multicentre trial. European Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2003. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2362.2003.01130.x
  6. Facchin S, Calgaro M, Pandolfo M, et al. Impact of oral butyrate on clinical and biochemical parameters in IBD: A randomized placebo-controlled study targeting gut microbiota. Digestive and Liver Disease. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dld.2025.11.014
  7. Pietrzak A, Banasiuk M, Szczepanik M, et al. Sodium Butyrate Effectiveness in Children and Adolescents with Newly Diagnosed Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Randomized Placebo-Controlled Multicenter Trial. Nutrients. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14163283
  8. Banasiewicz T, Krokowicz Ł, Stojcev Z, et al. Microencapsulated sodium butyrate reduces the frequency of abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Colorectal Disease. 2013. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-1318.2012.03152.x
  9. Cristofori F, Calabrese FM, Iacobellis I, et al. Calcium butyrate efficacy in pediatric irritable bowel syndrome: Randomized placebo-controlled multiomics-based clinical trial. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpn3.70154
  10. Panufnik P, Więcek M, Szwarc P, et al. Effect of microencapsulated sodium butyrate on abdominal symptoms and carbohydrate metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Scientific Reports. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-47309-9
  11. Gąsiorowska A, Romanowski M, Walecka-Kapica E, et al. Efficacy and Safety of a Mixture of Microencapsulated Sodium Butyrate, Probiotics, and Short Chain Fructooligosaccharides in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14010006
  12. Vanhoutvin SA, Troost FJ, Kilkens TO, et al. The effects of butyrate enemas on visceral perception in healthy volunteers. Neurogastroenterology and Motility. 2009. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2982.2009.01324.x
  13. Hamer HM, Jonkers DM, Bast A, et al. Butyrate modulates oxidative stress in the colonic mucosa of healthy humans. Clinical Nutrition. 2009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2008.11.002

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