Butyrate supplements are promoted for a wide range of digestive health benefits, from improving overall gut health to decreasing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, as well as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. They are also promoted for improving blood sugar and insulin function, promoting weight/fat loss, and for more general benefits such as decreasing inflammation, boosting the immune system, and increasing energy. Several small preliminary trials suggest potential benefits, but there is not enough evidence to prove that butyrate supplements do all that they promise.
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Gut health problems aren't something to be ashamed about. They're astonishingly common, affecting up to 70 million people in the United States alone, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.1 They also aren't something you should ignore since they can have tremendous impacts on your quality of life.
Those living with acute or chronic gut conditions may find relief in butyrate, an important and naturally occurring compound in the human body that many people, especially Americans, don't produce in sufficient amounts.2 For them, a butyrate supplement could be the solution.
But which supplements are worth trying? Find your answer to that question (and others) in this guide to the best butyrate supplements on the market.
If you&#;re pressed for time, take a quick look at our top recommendations below, but feel free to explore the rest of the page for thorough breakdowns of the testing and research behind those recommendations.
Our Top Choice
BodyBio Calcium Magnesium ButyrateBodyBio delivers a generous and efficacious dose of butyrate in a supplement that also happens to be our top pick for those on a tight budget.
You can buy BodyBio directly from the company website or via the company&#;s store on Amazon, but we&#;d suggest buying directly from BodyBio at this time. Not only does Amazon stock occasionally run low, but you save significant money by subscribing to BodyBio directly. (There are no subscription options via Amazon right now.)
Table of Contents
Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.
As with any of our guides, we first sought to understand the technical side of our subject. We closely read and analyzed the scientific literature, which totaled more than 50 studies, reviews, and other unbiased sources. With a solid foundation of knowledge to hold us up, we identified the major players in the butyrate supplement landscape and weighed their merits against one another. Then we got hands-on. We purchased and tried the market's most promising butyrate products, giving ourselves firsthand knowledge of key aspects of the consumer experience &#; chiefly purchasing, customer service, and consumption.
Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this guide was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.
We&#;ll continue to monitor the butyrate supplements space in the years to come, acquaint ourselves with new products, and stay abreast of changes to existing supplements so that our recommendations remain up-to-date.
With every product we recommend, we want our readers to stand the best odds of seeing their desired outcomes without serious risk to their health. That's why efficacy and safety were our primary evaluative criteria. We also want our recommendations to be accessible, so cost and convenience also factored into our evaluations.
Here's how our top butyrate supplements fared in each category:
Winner: BodyBio Calcium Magnesium Butyrate
A bit of a preface to explain how we came to choose our winner for efficacy: When we compared the market&#;s top butyrate supplements, we noticed that many were underdosed. To be fair, supplemental butyrate formulas reflect the fact that the human body normally makes all the butyrate it needs from dietary fiber. The problem is that the average Western diet doesn&#;t come close to recommended fiber intakes,2 and factors such as aging and stress can increase the amount of butyrate you need. So, for our top butyrate supplement, we looked for a brand that was high in both quality and dose, increasing the odds that it would work well for most people.
BodyBio Calcium Magnesium Butyrate takes the category for efficacy thanks to the potency of its individual capsules. A serving delivers 1.2g of butyrate across two caps, so each one contains 600mg of the active ingredient. Compare that with Return Healthy's Double Butyrate, which has more butyrate per serving (1,680mg) but splits it across a four-capsule serving size (420mg each). In other words, BodyBio is the winner here because it delivers its butyrate more efficiently, and Return Healthy is the runner-up because of its overall high dose combined with other gut-healthy ingredients (discussed in greater depth in the dedicated brand section later on).
We definitely acknowledge the utility of lower-dose supplements. One source we referenced earlier states the standard dose of butyrate at 150-300mg represents anywhere from 1.5% to 30% of the lowest daily bodily demand,2 so it's a suitable range for people who consume a fair amount of fiber but could use a little boost. Both of our lower-dose recommendations &#; Gundry MD Bio Complete 3 and Peak Performance Tributyrin&#; meet the upper limit of the range with 300mg of tributyrin, a slow-release form of butyrate.
Winner: Peak Performance Tributyrin Postbiotics With CoreBiome
Dietary supplements like butyrate adhere to a different set of regulatory guidelines than food and medicine. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't approve them for safety or efficacy before they hit the market,4 so we can't rely on FDA approval as our benchmark here. Instead, we study product ingredients for potential side effects and assess whether a brand adheres to safe production protocols.
Our winner for safety, Peak Performance Tributyrin, best meets our categorical criteria because of the following three qualities:
Simplified ingredient list
By "simplified ingredient list," we mean that Peak Performance Tributyrin is pure butyrate wrapped up in a vegan capsule. We know that butyrate is generally safe for most people. It occurs naturally in the body, for one thing. For another, an average-size human would need to consume upwards of 3,390mg per day to approach toxicity,5 and that's extremely unlikely to happen with a butyrate supplement. Therefore, without the addition of other ingredients in the Peak Performance formulation, we can be fairly certain that it won&#;t cause adverse reactions.
Our top overall recommendation, BodyBio, has a simplified ingredient list, too, but we consider it to be lower on the safety scale because of its higher dose.
Lower dose
A dose of Peak Performance Tributyrin contains 300mg of butyrate in the form of tributyrin, which is consistent with clinical doses. Although higher doses are appropriate and probably more efficacious for many Westerners, a lower one further reduces the odds of consuming a toxic quantity. Not only that, but the 300mg dose makes Peak Performance better for users who prefer starting out on the lowest effective dose. Of course, Gundry MD's Bio Complete 3 also has a 300mg quantity of butyrate, but it also has specific probiotics that can cause gastrointestinal distress in some users.6
Third-party testing
Testing by an independent third party helps assure the consumer that a product's potency and safety are exactly as stated by the manufacturer. Peak Performance isn't the only brand on our list to divulge its third-party testing &#; BodyBio and Gundry do the same &#; but combined with the simplified ingredient list and lower dose, it helps send Tributyrin Postbiotics to the top of the safety rankings.
Winner: BodyBio Calcium Magnesium Butyrate
BodyBio Calcium Magnesium Butyrate is the least expensive option on our list in terms of both up-front and per-serving costs. A one-time purchase of the 100-count bottle is $34.99, which is equivalent to $0.70 per two-capsule serving. As a subscription, the price drops to $29.74 ($0.59/serving). The 250-count bottle is more expensive up front at $74.99 for a one-timer and $63.74 for a subscription, but its respective per-serving costs are $0.60 and $0.51.
The runner-up for cost is Peak Performance. It costs $35.95 up front for a one-time purchase and $32.36 for a subscription. Not that much higher than BodyBio, right? But Peak Performance contains just 30 servings per bottle, so the per-serving costs are $1.19 and $1.07, respectively &#; roughly twice as much as BodyBio. You can reduce the per-serving cost a bit more by buying in three- or six-bottle bundles, but then your up-front cost would balloon tremendously.
Our other two butyrate recommendations are even more expensive. Gundry MD, at its most affordable, is $49.95 for a one-time purchase and $44.95 for a subscription ($1.67 and $1.49 per serving, respectively), whereas Return Healthy is $62.50 for a one-time and $56.25 for a subscription ($2.08 and $1.88 per serving). Gundry MD has three- and six-bottle bundles, too, which do reduce your per-serving costs but in exchange for steep up-front investments.
Winner: Peak Performance Tributyrin Postbiotics With CoreBiome
For the convenience category, we based our choice on serving size, capsule size, shipping, and logistics. None of our top brands fully satisfied each sub-criterion. So, before we could name the winner, we asked ourselves: Which is more important &#; serving and capsule size, or shipping and logistics? We decided that serving and capsule size took priority because they relate to daily use.
As a result, Peak Performance is our pick for convenience. The Tributyrin Postbiotics With CoreBiome aren't the smallest capsules, but they're close enough for the difference to be negligible. Plus, you need to take just one per day. We much prefer that to four pops of Return Healthy's barely smaller capsule.
Peak Performance's main downside is its 30-day return policy &#; the shortest time frame among our top recommendations. We wish it were at least 60 days, but we think the ease of daily use overshadows this small strike against the company.
In comparison, Return Healthy and BodyBio both have 60-day return windows, and BodyBio provides a very generous 90 days. The trade-offs are a high, four-capsule dose with Return Healthy; the largest capsule size with BodyBio; and a higher serving size, as well as slower shipping, with Gundry MD.
See the following table for a side-by-side comparison of our top butyrate supplements:
BodyBio Calcium Magnesium ButyrateReturn Healthy Double ButyrateGundry MD Bio Complete 3Peak Performance Tributyrin Postbiotics With CoreBiomeOne time purchase price$34.99 (100 capsules); $74.99 (250 capsules)$62.50$49.95-69.95 (not including bundles)$35.95 (not including bundles)If you subscribe$29.74 (100 capsules); $63.74 (250 capsules)$56.25$44.95 (not including bundles)$32.36 (not including bundles)Butyrate dosage1.2g1,680mg + 200mg tributyrin300mg tributyrin550mg tributyrin (300mg active tributyrin)Also includes160mg calcium, 80mg magnesium80mg shilajit extract, 80mg aloe vera, 2.5 billion CFU B. coagulins, 2.5 billion CFU L. rhamnosus GG, 0.4 billion CFU S. boulardii450mg Prebiotic Blend, 22mg Probiotic BlendNAServing size2 capsules4 capsules2 capsules1 capsuleUnit size100 or 250 capsules120 capsules60 capsules30 capsulesDelivery options if you subscribe30, 50, or 60 days30 days30 days (default), with option to delay weekly or 1-6 months30 daysReturn policy60 days60 days90 days30 daysButyrate, also known as butyric acid, is a type of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA). At around 15% of the body&#;s total SCFA composition, it's the third-most abundant SCFA in the human body, after acetate (60%) and propionate (25%).7 The trillions of microorganisms in your gut (a.k.a. your gut microbiome) naturally produce SCFAs such as butyrate by fermenting the fiber you ingest. Those SCFAs belong to a category of compounds called postbiotics, the digested &#;waste&#; of pre- and probiotics that allows the healthy bacteria in your gut microbiome to thrive.8
Butyrate, in particular, is a critical nutrient for gastrointestinal health because it's the "primary energy source" for intestinal mucosal epithelial cells.9 The epithelial cells serve two major functions. One is to separate your gut's microbes from host immune cells, thereby preventing interactions that would cause inflammation. The other is to mediate signals between your microbiota and host immune cells so you have a proper immune response to pathogens. In other words, butyrate helps your gut feel and function as it should. With sufficient amounts of it in your body, you lower your risk of inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and multiple other problems associated with a "leaky gut."10
Butyrate appears to have a close connection to mental functions, as well. SCFAs can affect a person's brain physiology and behavior because of the gut-brain axis, a network of nerves between the enteric nervous system (in the gut walls) and the central nervous system (headquartered in the brain).11 Communication between the two systems is bidirectional, meaning that it goes both ways. Butyrate functions as a mediator within the relationship. It can affect brain activity indirectly via stimulation of the peripheral nervous system or regulation of immune function, and it may directly affect the release of serotonin and gut hormones that can impact brain function.12
As discussed in a review, the human body needs 1,000-10,000mg of butyrate per day. A person should be capable of producing sufficient butyric acid through their diet, but the researchers note that Western populations have an "insufficient supply" of resistant starch and food fibers to do so.2 The resulting butyrate deficiency can lead to or exacerbate gastrointestinal problems, like the ones we've mentioned. It may even be associated with serious cognitive/behavioral illnesses like myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, owing to the gut-brain axis.13
A butyrate supplement can help you fill any deficiency you may have. Producing a butyrate supplement involves combining it with a mineral &#; usually sodium, calcium, or calcium/magnesium &#; to act as a buffer against butyrate&#;s acidity. Apart from the mineral used, there's no meaningful difference between sodium butyrate, calcium, and cal/mag butyrate. That being said, calcium and cal/mag variants are likely the best choice for many users, as the average American diet already has way too much sodium.14
Insider Tip: When choosing between a sodium, calcium, or cal/mag butyrate supplement, base your choice on your dietary needs. For example, if you're watching your sodium intake, or if you're deficient in calcium and magnesium, a cal/mag butyrate supplement would be the best option.
By the way, you can also boost your body's butyrate production by modifying your diet, which entails eating more:15
If you're butyrate-deficient and struggle to get enough of the dietary fiber necessary to produce it, then a butyrate supplement can help you close the gap. Below, we discuss three of the most promising health benefits that butyrate supplementation may help provide:
Gut health
In a review published in Immune Network, a pair of researchers explored the role that butyrate plays in preventing acute inflammation caused by pathogenic bacteria &#; specifically pathobionts, microorganisms native to a person's microbiome that become harmful under certain conditions. They explain that while all SCFAs have anti-inflammatory properties, butyrate is the "key mediator" among them. As such, it's essential for inhibiting the growth of pathobionts and reducing bacterial virulence, effectively regulating the microbiota.16
Butyrate is also critical for upholding the integrity of the intestinal epithelial-mucosal barrier, which prevents pathogens from crossing over from your gastrointestinal tract to your bloodstream. It does so by promoting the secretion of mucins, extracellular proteins that create a blockading layer across the epithelial cells. Not only that, but the regulatory function on the microbiota that we mentioned earlier helps prevent gut barrier dysfunction. That is, butyrate helps keep the barrier working as it should, thus preventing pathogens from passing through the intestinal wall, where they could cause increased systemic inflammation.16
Colorectal cancer
Administering an "adequate amount of butyrate to the appropriate site" may be able to prevent the formation of cancer cells in the gastrointestinal tract, say the authors of a review.17 The "appropriate site" in question is the colorectal region, where butyrate concentration is relatively low.
A study on the subject elucidates the matter. In it, a group of researchers treated colorectal cancer cells in vitro with sodium butyrate at various concentrations. The butyrate not only inhibited cancer cell proliferation but also induced autophagy and apoptosis &#; the processes by which a cell self-degrades dysfunctional components and self-destructs, respectively.18
Although the researchers weren&#;t able to determine the mechanism of action behind the outcomes, their findings should be uplifting for the upwards of 150,000 people diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer every year.19 If an increased butyrate concentration in the gastrointestinal tract can keep cancer at bay, then taking a butyrate supplement could be an important preventive health measure.
Obesity
The researchers behind a review discuss some of the possible mechanisms of action that allow butyrate to alleviate obesity. They theorize that butyrate may enhance the secretion of a gastrointestinal hormone called GLP-1, which (among other functions) can reduce appetite and keep the stomach full for longer. Butyrate can also stimulate the secretion of peptide YY (PYY), which is associated with several factors that can influence obesity &#; food intake, gut motility, and insulin secretion.20
The researchers note the evidence is controversial, as some research instead shows a positive correlation between butyrate and obesity.21 However, a more recent study, conducted in , helps us approach a firmer conclusion about butyrate's utility toward weight control. In it, 54 obese pediatric subjects were randomized into two groups: one that received an oral butyrate supplement and another that received a placebo. By the end of the trial, the butyrate group demonstrated a higher rate of decrease in body mass index (an average of 0.25, considered statistically significant), as well as secondary markers such as waist circumference and cholesterol levels. The researchers thus concluded: "Oral butyrate supplementation may be effective in the treatment of pediatric obesity."22
Butyrate may deliver additional benefits in other areas, too, such as cognitive function (perhaps not surprising given the gut-brain axis). For example, in a review, the authors discuss its potential to protect neurons from cell death in Parkinson&#;s disease, as well as to promote genes associated with plasticity (the ability of the brain to adapt to experience).23 However, research indicates the most promising applications relate to the aforementioned focal areas of gut health, colorectal cancer, and obesity, so those are the areas for which we&#;d recommend taking a butyrate supplement.
Butyrate supplements are generally considered safe. Butyric acid occurs naturally in the body, after all. Besides, many Americans probably don't make sufficient amounts of it on their own, seeing as butyric acid production relies on dietary fiber and the average U.S. adult eats less than half as much as they should.24 To put things in some perspective, the highest-dose supplement on our list (Return Healthy Double Butyrate) delivers 1,680mg of butyrate, which falls just short of at least one estimate of the body's daily demand.2
That doesn't mean that butyrate supplements are entirely risk-free for everyone. All supplements carry some degree of risk. With butyrate, toxicity is possible in high-enough doses. Case in point, a rat study that administered sodium butyrate at 0.3-2.5g/kg found that "excessive" butyrate caused an "immediate [but] reversible toxic effect" that led to steep declines in core body temperature (6 degrees Celsius below normal at peak drop).5 However, an equivalent dose for a 70kg human would be something like 3.3-28.2g (3,390-28,220mg), and as long as you take your butyrate supplement as directed, the odds of even approaching such a high dose are extremely low.
The Cleveland Clinic warns that people with lower fiber tolerances may experience side effects, as well &#; namely symptoms associated with food intolerances, like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and nausea.15 25 At the same time, clinical trials on people with gastrointestinal issues have largely yielded no adverse reactions. That includes a study on 66 individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, in which the researchers noted an "absence of side effects.&#;26
A last concern is something we mentioned earlier, which is sodium. Some users who need to monitor their sodium intake may find the amounts integrated into a sodium butyrate supplement can put them at risk for complications such as hypertension.27
If you feel that your risk is higher than normal, you should consider using a cal/mag butyrate product.
Because butyrate plays a crucial role in gut health, and butyrate deficiency correlates with gut dysfunction, we'd say that butyrate supplementation is generally suitable for people with an acute or chronic gut malady, such as:
Butyrate's activity against colorectal cancer cells makes it a potential preventive against cancers of the colon and rectum, too. Therefore, people with the following colorectal cancer risk factors might be interested in adding a butyrate supplement to their regimen:28
Also, considering butyrate's potential effects on insulin secretion and appetite, it may likewise be beneficial to individuals with overweight or obesity, or people who experience difficulty managing their food intake.
On the flip side of the coin are people who'd be better off avoiding butyrate supplementation altogether, or else exercising caution. It's a population that includes:
Pregnant or breastfeeding women (Avoid)
There isn't enough clinical research to say conclusively whether butyrate supplementation is safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women, or their children. The available research isn't optimistic. One clinical trial in rats found that maternal butyrate supplementation "throughout gestation and lactation" led to insulin resistance and ectopic fat buildup in the offspring, which suggests negative health implications for newborn humans.29
People with sensitive guts (Avoid)
As we've mentioned, butyrate supplementation can trigger gastrointestinal discomfort in people with sensitive guts, particularly if they have low fiber tolerances. The severity of symptoms may vary depending on one's degree of intolerance.
People with overweight or obesity (Exercise caution)
Another point that bears repeating is that the research on butyrate's impact on weight is mixed. One study may appear to promote butyrate as a remedy, while another study suggests that high butyrate concentrations correlate with higher weight.22 21 Our recommendation, then, is to exercise caution if you're considering a butyrate supplement for weight control.
Before you click Checkout on any of our recommended products, speak first with a medical provider to gain their professional insight.
Best overall and best high-dose single-ingredient butyrate supplement
Photo by Innerbody Research
High 1.2g dose of butyrate
Significant quantities of calcium and magnesium
Third-party tested to validate potency
Lowest up-front cost (100-count bottle)
Lowest per-serving costs (either size)
Highest subscription discount (15%)
Relatively wide range of delivery intervals
60-day return policy
Numerous payment options
Vegan
Cal/mag capsules available only in larger volumes (100- and 250-count bottles)
Largest capsule size among products in our guide
No free-shipping threshold
No international shipping
Remember what we said about underdosing of butyrate among supplemental sources? You don't have to worry about that with BodyBio Calcium Magnesium Butyrate. Because the body needs up to 10,000mg of butyrate per day,2 and the average American doesn't consume enough fiber to produce sufficient butyric acid on their own, then we can conclude that BodyBio's 1.2g dose (validated via third-party testing) can go a long way toward making up for the deficiency. On our list, only Return Healthy's Double Butyrate contains more of the active ingredient (1,680mg of butyrate plus 200mg of tributyrin); Gundry MD and Peak Performance hover at around one-third of BodyBio&#;s dose.
BodyBio Calcium Magnesium Butyrate also delivers fair amounts of its other two stated ingredients: 160mg of calcium and 80mg of magnesium. In terms of daily values, it contains 16% and 20% of the respective minerals. While people with severe calcium and magnesium deficiencies may need higher doses (most adults need around 1,000mg of the former and 400mg of the latter),30 31 the amounts found in BodyBio are likely sufficient for most users who need a boost in their daily intake. (For comparison's sake, the quantities are about equal to, if not more than, the amounts you typically find in popular multivitamins.)
Photo by Innerbody Research
Now, higher doses tend to correspond with larger capsules, and that's certainly true of BodyBio's butyrate. A single capsule measures approximately an inch long, making it the largest capsule on our list. The size difference compared to our other recommendations isn't drastic, but people who have difficulty swallowing pills are likely to notice it.
On the plus side, BodyBio&#;s cal/mag butyrate is vegan. Granted, vegetarians and vegans are probably the least needful populations when it comes to butyric acid production, seeing as they tend to consume the most fiber,50 but BodyBio's vegan-friendliness is still something we appreciate.
By the way, BodyBio's butyrate is available in a sodium alternative, too. We don't recommend it as part of our top recommendation since it contains a somewhat hefty 313.3mg dose of sodium, which is not only more than twice as much as we've seen in other sodium butyrate supplements but also enough to push a lot of users over the 2,300mg/day FDA-recommended threshold.14 However, if you're someone who doesn't get enough sodium in your diet, BodyBio Sodium Butyrate may be a viable option for you.
BodyBio Calcium Magnesium Butyrate comes in two sizes: 100-count and 250-count bottles. The pricing for either option varies depending on whether you choose a one-time purchase or an auto-shipped subscription, the latter of which offers the highest discount among our recommendations (15%). In either case, BodyBio has the lowest per-serving costs on our list, and the 100-count bottle has the lowest up-front price tag. Here's how it all breaks down:
One-time purchaseSubscription (15% off)100 capsules (50 servings)$34.99 ($0.70/serving)$29.74 ($0.59/serving)250 capsules (125 servings)$74.99 ($0.60/serving)$63.74 ($0.51/serving)(An aside: The Sodium Butyrate version is available in 60- and 100-count bottles for $24.99 and $34.99, respectively.)
With a subscription, you can choose between 30-, 50-, and 60-day delivery intervals. A 100-count bottle contains 50 servings, so a 50-day interval would be ideal for a single user. We wish, however, that the 250-count bottle (125 servings) came with longer intervals; as it is, even a 60-day schedule would leave you with a major surplus by the end of a single cycle, so the larger size is probably more suitable for households with multiple users or those whose doctors have recommended a more significant dose. Still, BodyBio has a wider range of delivery intervals than Return Healthy or Peak Performance, which do 30-day deliveries exclusively.
When you check out, you'll see that your payment options are also pretty diverse:
Flat-rate shipping adds $5.00 to your total. Unfortunately, BodyBio doesn't have a free-shipping threshold. No international orders, either, although the company will ship to APOs/FPOs &#; for a steeper shipping cost, and as long as you call to place your order.
For domestic orders to the continental United States, BodyBio says to expect 4-6 days for your order to arrive. For shipping to APOs/FPOs, the estimated delivery time is 3-6 weeks. Our package, being a domestic order, arrived in four days, as stated. It came in a plain box with normal tape, similar to most of the brands we discuss in this guide. If you&#;re anything like us (i.e., not keen on showcasing your supplement purchases to your neighbors), you&#;ll appreciate such discreet packaging.
If you need to return your order, know that the policy window is 60 days. That's on par with Return Healthy's policy and twice as long as Peak Performance's, but it falls short of Gundry MD's 90-day time frame.
You can return an item, for any reason, for a refund or exchange. Only unopened items are eligible for a full refund, whereas opened items qualify for store credit valid for one year after issuance.
Initiating a return is a straightforward process that involves emailing the company for a return shipping label (otherwise, you're accountable for return shipping costs with no reimbursement).
Best high-dose butyrate complex
Photo by Innerbody Research
For more butyric acid benefitsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
Highest butyrate dose on our list (1,680mg)
Delivers a fairly high dose of calcium (310mg)
Contains helpful supportive ingredients in shilajit and aloe vera
Includes probiotics for improved gut health
Free shipping for orders of $75 or more
60-day return policy
Smallest capsule size on our list
High daily dosage of four capsules
High up-front and per-serving costs
Only 30-day delivery intervals
No international shipping
True to its name, Return Healthy Double Butyrate provides not one but two doses of butyrate. One is 1,680mg of pure butyrate, and the other is 200mg of tributyrin, a slow-release form of butyric acid the body can more easily absorb. The 200mg dose of tributyrin is within the standard 150-300mg range considered to be both safe and effective,2 while the 1,680mg dose of pure butyrate (the highest among our recommendations) is high enough to help low-producing users compensate for their deficiency.
Return Healthy is a calcium butyrate product whose 310mg calcium content amounts to about 30% of one's minimum daily needs and 15% of the recommended upper limit.32 At that dosage, it provides almost two times the amount of calcium as BodyBio. Moreover, seeing as calcium is best absorbed at doses under 500mg,33 the quantity is within an effective range for correcting minor deficiencies.
Of course, we're not dealing with just a butyrate supplement here. Return Healthy Double Butyrate is a complex, so it incorporates additional ingredients to boost the benefits to your gut and maximize the potential cognitive impacts.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Below is an overview of the supplement's other key components.
Shilajit extract 80mg
Shilajit is a fossil substance that oozes out of the cracks of rocks at high altitudes (typically above 12,000 feet). Its role in the Double Butyrate formulation is to aid in "gut barrier support and mitochondrial energy production," per the Return Healthy website. Indeed, shilajit has shown high potential to impart such benefits. In one review, the researchers stated it "can be used effectively for the treatment of gastrointestinal distress,"34 while a rat study found that it may mitigate the effects of chronic fatigue syndrome.35 The minimum effective dose for a human should be around 300mg per day; the quantity in Double Butyrate falls well short, but working alongside butyrate, it may still help deliver the supplement's purported gut health benefits.
Aloe vera 80mg
Aloe vera is a well-known demulcent, or a substance for soothing irritated or inflamed tissue. A study published in Clinical Nutrition Research in tested its efficacy on ulcerative colitis induced in rats and found that oral administration successfully reduced inflammation, ulcers, and tissue damage.36 The researchers recommended a dose of 50mg/kg (equivalent to around 560mg for a 70kg human); Double Butyrate again falls short, but its 80mg of aloe vera is significantly higher than the amounts found in some of the market's best leaky gut supplements.
Probiotics 0.4-2.5 billion CFU
The Double Butyrate formulation includes three species of probiotics to support the supplement's gastrointestinal benefits, each specified down to species and colony-forming units (CFU), and one even identified by its strain: Bacillus coagulans (2.5 billion CFU), Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (2.5 billion CFU), and Saccharomyces boulardii (0.4 billion CFU). All such details are important because probiotic effects can vary tremendously depending on their type and viable numbers.
As for specific functions &#; B. coagulans (now also known as Weizmannia coagulans) has potential efficacy against constipation and irritable bowel syndrome,37 L. rhamnosus GG has been shown to inhibit pathogens like Salmonella and Shigella,38 and S. boulardii may be effective against diarrhea and a different set of infections, including Clostridioides difficile and Helicobacter pylori.39 Thus, these probiotics are likely to serve as powerful scaffolds for reinforcing your gut health.
In exchange for all the healthful ingredients and their associated benefits, you have to take a dose of four capsules &#; twice as many as BodyBio or Gundry MD, and four times as many as Peak Performance. The upside is that Return Healthy's capsule size is the smallest among all of our recommended brands. Again, the size difference isn't major, but if you're going to be taking a small handful every day, you have to find the positive where you can.
Return Healthy Double Butyrate comes in just one size: a 120-capsule bottle that provides 30 servings. The one-time purchase price is $62.50, which amounts to a per-serving cost of $2.08 (these would be the highest costs on our list if not for Gundry MD&#;s non-membership rates). The up-front price drops to $56.26 ($1.87 per serving) if you subscribe for auto-ship deliveries every 30 days. No other delivery interval is available to you.
Payment options are limited to credit cards and PayPal. Venmo is listed as an option on the site, but no option for it was visible to us during the checkout process.
Standard shipping costs a flat rate of $6.00. International orders aren't available at this time. Orders of $75 and above ship for free, but you won't reach the threshold with the butyrate alone.
Return Healthy says to expect delivery of your package within 3-6 days. When ours arrived, it was every bit as unmarked and discreet as our orders from BodyBio and Peak Performance. But note that we purchased this product from Amazon because it was less expensive. We&#;d suggest you do the same, unless you&#;re buying for the first time and want the protection of a good money-back return policy.
If you buy direct, Return Healthy's return policy is a bit better than BodyBio's. You have the same 60-day time frame, but there seems to be no stipulation about opened versus unopened products; rather, Return Healthy says you can get a full refund with "no questions asked." All you have to do is the company to request a return and remember to include your order number and a copy of your invoice in your package. You cover the cost of return shipping, but you can use any shipping method you want.
Best low-dose butyrate complex
Photo by Innerbody Research
Scientifically supported dose of tributyrin (300mg)
Reduced cost for members (free account)
Free shipping for orders of $49 and more
Bulk savings available
90-day money-back guarantee
Wide range of delivery intervals
Third-party tested
Produced in cGMP-compliant facilities
CFU and specific prebiotic quantities not included on the label
Highest up-front cost without membership
Fairly large capsule size
Not the most user-friendly website experience
Less-than-discreet packaging
Credit card&#;only payments
Gundry MD Bio Complete 3, a product we've reviewed on its own, contains the whole biotics trifecta: pre-, pro-, and post-. Together, the three components allow the good bacteria in your microbiome to grow and flourish, thereby supporting healthy gut function and optimizing gut-brain axis communication.
Photo by Innerbody Research
Let's break down the product label:
Prebiotic Blend 450mg
Prebiotics are food for probiotics.41 Your gut bacteria consume them and break them down into SCFAs, which can then perform the healthful functions we've discussed (e.g., energizing your intestinal epithelial cells and mitigating inflammation).
The specific prebiotics in Bio Complete 3 are acacia gum and guar fiber. Both are fermentable soluble fibers associated with particular gastrointestinal health improvements. For example, a review in Nutrients found that guar gum can improve abdominal pain and bowel habits, while acacia gum can lead to increases in Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli,42 which themselves can help with intestinal infections43 and diarrhea,44 respectively (and with less gas and bloating compared to inulin, another common prebiotic).42
A downside to the Prebiotic Blend is its low dose. Studies suggest that 5-10g of such prebiotics are optimal for gut health,45 46 but Gundry MD's 450mg dose amounts to just 0.9-4.5% of the recommended amount. There's also a slight safety concern seeing as bifidobacterium and lactobacillus can potentially cause gastrointestinal side effects such as stomach bloating and discomfort.6
Postbiotic Blend 300mg
Gundry's Postbiotic Blend refers to tributryin, which we discussed in the previous section. The 300mg quantity is at the upper limit of the standard clinical range and also low enough to be appropriate for those who either get a fair amount of fiber in their diet or wish to start out on the lowest possible dose.2 It&#;s largely because the tributyrin dose sits in such a sweet spot that we designated Bio Complete 3 our best low-dose complex.
Though we&#;ve already talked about tributyrin&#;s potential advantages over ordinary butyrate, we also want to mention here that Bio Complete 3 specifically uses a branded version called CoreBiome, the same as used in Peak Performance. The company that makes CoreBiome, Compound Solutions, claims that it &#;gets to the colon where it is needed&#; rather than being &#;primarily metabolized ... in the stomach&#; like ordinary butyrate. No published research is available to substantiate the claim, but it&#;s still butyrate, whose health benefits are well studied.
Probiotic Blend 22mg
The Probiotic Blend consists of B. coagulans and Bifidobacterium bifidum. We discussed the benefits of B. coagulans earlier, in our section for Return Healthy Double Butyrate. As for B. bifidum, clinical research has shown that it can improve symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome and potentially support weight loss.47 48
Note that the label for Gundry MD Bio Complete 3 lists the probiotic blend in milligrams, not CFU, which doesn't tell us what we need to know about the number of viable probiotic cells. However, from earlier research into the product, we know that every serving of Bio Complete 3 delivers 2 billion CFU of probiotics, which amount is consistent with clinical studies.49
Because Bio Complete 3 is a complex, it has a lot of ingredients to pack into its capsules despite the comparably low dose of butyrate. The result is a capsule that&#;s larger than Return Healthy and Peak Performance but slightly smaller than BodyBio.
Gundry MD's pricing options go beyond one-time purchases versus subscriptions. There are two tiers of one-time purchase rates &#; non-members and members &#; and you can also bundle your order in three- or six-bottle shipments. Membership earns you a 28% discount off the base price, subscribing discounts the membership price by an additional 10%, and bundling adds even more savings.
Membership is free; you need only to create and validate an account on the Gundry MD website. Becoming a member is also the only way to view the subscription prices, which adds a small layer of inconvenience to the shopping experience.
As you can see in the pricing table below, Gundry MD&#;s non-membership prices are the highest up-front and per-serving costs on our list, but with the drastically lower membership and subscription prices, that distinction transfers to Return Healthy&#;s Double Butyrate instead. Not only that, but orders of $49 or more ship for free, so all but the single-bottle subscription option qualify.
One-time purchase (non-member)One-time purchase (member &#; 28% off)Subscription (10% off member price)One bottle$69.95 ($2.30 per serving)$49.95 ($1.67 per serving)$44.95 ($1.50 per serving)Three bottles$188.85 ($2.09 per serving)$134.85 ($1.50 per serving)$119.85 ($1.33 per serving)Six bottles$353.70 ($1.97 per serving)$254.70 ($1.42 per serving)$227.70 ($1.27 per serving)If you subscribe, you'll get a fresh shipment every one month by default, but you can choose longer intervals (weekly delays or every 1-6 months) in your account settings. The thing is, you can't choose your interval until after you've checked out. It's not big enough of a problem to cause a headache, but it's another layer of inconvenience that diminishes the user experience a bit further.
At checkout, credit card is your only payment option. You can expect to receive your order in about a week &#; roughly twice as long as shipments from BodyBio or Peak Performance. Ours arrived in seven days and was mostly plain except for branded packing tape. Frankly, we would have preferred the package to be totally discreet, but that's just how the company ships its orders.
On a much more positive note, Gundry MD has a 90-day money-back guarantee, which is 30 days longer than that of BodyBio or Return Healthy and three times as long as the return period for Peak Performance. The return window opens on the day your order ships from Gundry's fulfillment center. To initiate a return, you can either call Gundry's support team or submit a Return Merchandise Authorization form. As long as you're still within the 90-day window, you'll receive a return authorization number and shipping instructions. You should receive your refund shortly after the return arrives at the company's shipping facility. You, the customer, are responsible for covering return shipping charges.
Best low-dose single-ingredient butyrate supplement, most convenient
Photo by Innerbody Research
300mg tributyrin consistent with clinical doses
Simplified ingredient list
Second-lowest up-front and per-serving costs
Free shipping on orders over $49
Bulk savings available
Third-party tested
One-capsule dose
Small capsule size
Vegan-friendly capsules
Multiple payment options
Shortest return window on our list
Only 30-day delivery intervals
No international shipping
Peak Performance Tributyrin Postbiotics With CoreBiome is a single-ingredient supplement consisting entirely of butyrate. The form of butyrate in question is the same branded CoreBiome tributyrin that Gundry MD uses. It provides a 550mg quantity, of which 300mg is active tributyrin (as verified through third-party testing). Again, that amount of butyrate is the upper limit of standard clinical doses.2 Because of its simplicity and modest-but-efficacious dosing, Peak Performance Tributyrin may be the best product on our list for beginners testing the waters of the butyrate supplement space.
Peak Performance can also boast of a high degree of convenience with its butyrate. That's because a serving is just one capsule &#; half the number that BodyBio and Gundry require, and a quarter of the quantity you need with Return Healthy. At the same time, the capsule is probably no larger than the Return Healthy capsule, so it's the ideal choice for users who have difficulty swallowing pills.
Last, like BodyBio, Peak Performance is vegan, so it should appeal to a somewhat wider audience.
In terms of both up-front and per-serving costs, Peak Performance Tributyrin is the second-least expensive product on our list, behind only BodyBio's Calcium Magnesium Butyrate. A one-time purchase of a single bottle is just $35.95 ($1.20 per serving), while a subscription is 10% less at $32.36 ($1.08 per serving).
Also, like Gundry MD's Bio Complete 3, Peak Performance gives you the option to bundle your butyrate in three- or six-bottle orders. The caveat is that multi-bottle orders aren&#;t eligible for subscriptions, and only the six-bottle option nets you any further savings compared to the one-bottle subscription price. However, either bundle option gets you over the $49 free-shipping threshold, and that&#;s a plus.
The table below lays out all of your purchase options.
One-time purchaseSubscription (10% discount)One bottle$35.95 ($1.20/serving)$32.36 ($1.08/serving)Three bottles (10% off base)$32.36 ($1.08/serving)NASix bottles (20% off base)$28.76 ($0.96/serving)NAUnfortunately, the delivery interval is limited to 30 days, as with Return Healthy.
The payment options are numerous, at least. The range isn't as wide as BodyBio's, but you have several choices:
Orders to the continental United States, Hawaii, and Alaska are eligible for standard shipping, which adds around $7 to your total. The standard shipping time is 2-3 days (our order arrived in three, in discreet packaging). For an added cost, you can opt for expedited or priority shipping, which is estimated to arrive in 1-2 days.
One of the major downsides of Peak Performance is its return policy, which allows only a tight 30-day window. The silver lining is that it's a no-questions-asked, 100% money-back guarantee. To initiate your return, you can or call the company and provide your order/confirmation number.
The only meaningful difference between sodium butyrate, calcium butyrate, and calcium/magnesium butyrate is the mineral with which the butyrate is combined. With that being said, your choice of combination will increase your intake of the associated mineral. For example, BodyBio's Sodium Butyrate contains 313.3mg of sodium, so if your diet is anything like the average American's, taking it may push you over your recommended daily allowance.14
By the way, the reason for the combination is that the sodium, calcium, or magnesium acts as a buffer against butyrate's acidity. With the buffer, your supplement is easier for your stomach to handle.
The amount of butyrate you should take depends on your personal need, which itself depends largely on your diet. The USDA recommends consuming 14g of dietary fiber for every 1,000 calories;51 therefore, a 2,000-calorie daily intake should include at least 28g of fiber. If you regularly consume close to that amount but could use a boost, then you should be okay with the 150-300mg standard clinical dose of butyrate.2 But if your deficiency is larger, which is likely with the average American diet, you might consider a much larger amount, such as the 1.2g dose you get with BodyBio Calcium Magnesium Butyrate, our overall winner.
Some evidence suggests that, yes, butyrate may be able to help control diabetes. A review published in Frontiers in Nutrition noted that individuals with type 2 diabetes have less butyrate-producing bacteria in their gut microbiota and that butyrate plays a key role in improving glycemia, body weight, and insulin sensitivity52 &#; all markers associated with diabetes.
The science is conflicted about whether butyrate can help people lose weight, but some research suggests it might. A review posits that butyrate can stimulate the secretions of one peptide (GLP-1) that suppresses appetite and another (PYY) that influences food intake, gut motility, and insulin.20 However, more studies may be needed on the subject.
Yes. Leaky gut is a condition characterized by a breakdown in the barrier between the gut and the bloodstream,40 and as noted in that review we mentioned above, butyrate &#;enhances intestinal barrier function and mucosal immunity.&#;20
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