Butyric acid: saturated fatty acid

It is an acid produced by the bacterial degradation of fiber in the colon. It is carboxylic acid, which forms an oily colorless liquid that solidifies at 8 °C and boils at 164 °C. It is soluble in water, ethanol and ether.

There are several bacterial strains producing butyric acid, which belong to the genera Clostridium, Butyribacterium, Butyrivibrio, Sarcina, Eubacterium, Fusobacterium and Megasphera.

Most butyric acid–producing bacteria ferment glucose, hexose, pentose, and oligo- and polysaccharides and form acetic acid in addition to butyric acid as their major fermentation products.

Butyric acid occurs in milk, and butter contains 3.3 percent butyric acid. Butyric acid and other shot-chain fatty acids are taken up by the intestine to be use for energy. Butyric acid is an important energy source of the cells lining the colon, where it seems to assist their normal development and maintainance.
Butyric acid: saturated fatty acid