Butyrate and its multifarious effects

Butyrate is a short chain fatty acid and an essential energy source for cells in the intestinal tract. However it also benefits the immune system of animals and holds antibacterial activity. Supplementing diets with coated butyrate can therefore be beneficial to promote animal health. By Pauline Paap, Orffa Additives, the Netherlands Energy supply to intestinal epithelial cells is important due to the fact that the mammalian intestinal mucosa is one of the most rapidly replicating t