Fermented Foods Can Improve Immunity Thanks to Butyrate Fatty Acid

Earlier this week there was a fantastic science report released about how our gut microbiome can help protect us against infections. This study has proven that the gut bacteria have a direct relationship with the immune system and that by focusing on your gut microbiome we can positively improve immunity against infections.

In summary, the study was over a six-year-period and researchers identified a link between reduced butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut and increased risk of severe infections. The findings in the scientific study suggest that there is the potential for dietary strategies to increase these beneficial bacteria as a preventive measure against infections and long-term disease. To read the study in full please visit here.

What is the gut microbiome?

In your large intestine lives an abundance of microbes. In fact, there are more microbes in your gut than cells making up the human body. These microbes are an eco-system of their own and have a direct relationship with many systems and functions in the body including, the brain, the immune system, the endocrine system and more. Science now agrees that 70% of your immune system lives within your gut and your microbiome communicates with your immune system. Knowing this information should give us some encouragement that we can have a positive influence on our own microbiome and also our immunity.

How does your gut microbiome work?

Your gut microbes can live happily together with harmful and beneficial bacteria, fungi and other organisms. As long as, the beneficial bacteria are in abundance, then they can help monitor and keep the harmful microbes under control. The problems start when things in your life change. For example, you may be under extreme stress and as a result this will have a direct impact on the way your gut microbes behave. If you have a high sugar diet then this too will feed more of the harmful bacteria and fungi in your gut. Taking pharmaceutical drugs particularly such as antibiotics will cause an imbalance in the gut bacteria and unless take probiotics, your gut microbiome is not being given a change to diversify again.

What is Butyric Acid?

Butyric acid is what’s known as a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA). It’s a common SCFA in your gut, along with acetic acid and propionic acid. These three fatty acids make up between 90 and 95 percent. SCFAs are saturated fatty acids that are created when friendly bacteria break down dietary fibre.

Butyrate is primarily produced through the fermentation of non-digestible carbohydrates (fibres) by anaerobic bacteria in the colon. Common butyrate-producing bacteria include species from the genera Clostridium, Eubacterium, and Faecalibacterium.

Butyric acid goes by several other names, including butyrate and butanoic acid.

For more information about Butyric Acid – click here.

How can we increase Butyrate Producing Bacteria?

The study has shown that people with higher butyrate-producing bacteria in the gut can decrease their risk of infection by as much as 15-25%.

Reading this, if you are anything like me, then I was immediately thinking how can we get more butyrate producing bacteria in our gut? If Butyrate is produced through fermentation, then surely there has to be Butyrate-producing-bacteria in fermented foods.