'Gut Matters: Decoding Bowel Disorders, Emphasizing Nutritional Strategies and Butyrate's Role in Gut Health' - IHCAN Conferences Webinar

Are there any particular forms of fibre that produce higher amounts of butyrate? Or is it more to do with the specific microbes you have in your colon?
Dietary fiber remains relatively intact as it travels to the colon since there are really no enzymes that break them down on the way. Anaerobic microbiota in the colon ferment these fibers, the ability to do this and the end product is heavily based on the state of an individuals microbiome.

Would you recommend butyrate for Ulcerative Colitis?
Would butyrate help someone with a milk protein intolerance ie. Would it help them overcome it?
Research shows that butyrate can benefit individuals suffering with UC by enhancing barrier functions, acting as an anti-inflammatory, acting as an energy source for colonocytes, and regulating immune function.
Butyrate could help with certain symptoms related to milk protein intolerance, however it will not counteract the bodies immune response to milk protein specifically.

What dosage is needed for IBS or IBD?
Research shows benefits at relatively low dosages, some studies ranging from 150mg/day up to 2g/day.

I have seen Butyric acid (Calcium and Magnesium Butyrate) as supplementation capsules. Will they have any positive effect in the colon?
Butyrate salts, like the ones mentioned, can have a benefit in the colon as they are poorly absorbed elsewhere. There is difficulty in formulating with them however due to physical characteristics such as aroma and taste.

How long would you take this supplement for? (Bettergut)
Butyrate is constantly being produced in the colon via fermentation by gut microbiota, by that logic there should not be a restriction on how long a supplement like this could be taken.

Where is Bettergut available in the UK?
Bettergut can be found in the UK via the leading wholesalers (CLF, Modern Herbals, soon also at Dundeis) and at selected health shops (and on phytoceutics.com/uk).

Can IBS be caused by SIBO?
Research shows that SIBO can cause IBS symptoms such as bloating, pain, changes in stool.

From the IBS perspective, butyrate is found mostly in butter (assume cow’s butter), which can also IBS trigger symptoms. What are the pros and cons on consuming butter?
Butter is very high in saturated fats, is calorie dense, nutrient limiting, and has the potential for certain individuals to be allergic or intolerant.

I often find my high histamine / allergy patients cant manage the fermented foods and butyrate-rich foods, as these aerehigh in histamine. Any hints and tips?
The health benefits of fermented foods are numerous, there are supplements on the market, specifically diamine oxidase which is responsible for degrading histamine in the body.

Ghee – clarified butter – would that be a better option vs butter?
Ghee is made by removing the milk solids which mainly consist of the proteins and sugars, making it a viable options for people who have intolerances and still want a food source of butyrate. It should be noted that ghee is still quite high in saturated fats.

What was the issue with Sodium Butryate?
Sodium butyrate is somewhat difficult to work with, it is very hygroscopic, and has a strong unpleasant taste and odor.
What about endometriosis with bleeding from the bowel. mixed with IBS pain.
Animal models using both animal and human endometriotic lesions showed benefits when treated with butyrate. Studies also showed that mice with endometriosis contained less of short-chain fatty acid and n-butyrate than feces from mice without endometriosis.

Why would someone with IMO have a bad reaction to buyrate supplementation?
Based on the sequence of IMO progression, it seems that methanogen overgrowth causes a depletion in short chain fatty acids, such as butyrate. Once overgrown dietary intake of fiber laeds to production of hydrogen which is then used by methanogens to produce methane gas. This can lead to a multitude of dietary symptoms.

How do you test for Leaky Gut?
Some options include Lactulose/Mannitol test or a Zonulin Family Peptide Test. Often times however it is best to do a symptom assessment and rule out other more well defined gastrointestinal diseases.

Is this product Better Gut can be used for Leaky gut?
Research shows that butyrate consumption at relatively low doses promotes tight junction protein expression in human colonic tissues.