butyrate

noun

bu·​ty·​rate ˈbyü-tə-ˌrāt How to pronounce butyrate (audio)
: a salt or ester of butyric acid

Examples of butyrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Furthermore, research shows that a deficiency in gut germs that produce butyrate (a short-chain fatty acid central to the health of the gut-brain axis) can cause fatigue.67 4. Qin Rao, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025 Gut bacteria can ferment fiber, producing a molecule known as butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that is believed to have anti-cancer properties, including inhibiting tumorous cell growth and promoting death in cancerous cells, Fasulo said. Akshay Syal, NBC news, 31 May 2025 Our bodies naturally make a little bit of butyrate, but most is produced by microbes, and its output is boosted by aerobic exercise. Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 20 May 2025 After six weeks all participants showed increases in butyrate and two other short-chain fatty acids, acetate and propionate. Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 20 May 2025 Both ghee and butter contain conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and butyrate. Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2025 Juicing strips away much of the fiber in whole fruits and vegetables, which feeds beneficial bacteria that produce anti-inflammatory compounds such as butyrate. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 6 Feb. 2025 When fiber is transformed into beneficial compounds like butyrate, these compounds help reinforce the protective barrier of the gut lining and boost immune function, said Allen A. Lee, MD, MS, a clinical lecturer specializing in gastroenterology at the University of Michigan Health. Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2025 Here, SCFAs made up mostly of acetate, propionate and butyrate are produced in the colon and then dispersed around the body. New Atlas, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of butyrate was in 1852

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Cite this Entry

“Butyrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butyrate. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

butyrate

noun
bu·​ty·​rate ˈbyüt-ə-ˌrāt How to pronounce butyrate (audio)
: a salt or ester of butyric acid
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