Method: Shotgun metagenomic sequencing (CLIA 21D2062464); not cleared or approved by the FDA. Results reflect relative microbial abundance for wellness education purposes. Not intended to diagnose or treat disease and not a substitute for clinical consultation. Microbial associations are based on emerging scientific research and may change over time. Derived from laboratory results. This score or index is not an FDA-cleared test. It aids clinician-directed assessment and is not a stand-alone diagnosis.
A derived biomarker is a value that is calculated from other directly measured biomarkers rather than being measured directly in the lab.
Key benefits of Butyrate testing
- Colonocyte fuel supply tracking
- gut barrier support and anti-inflammatory capacity assessment
What is Butyrate?
Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and the primary energy source for colonocytes (colon lining cells). The Butyrate metric reflects your gut microbiome's functional capacity to produce butyrate from dietary fiber fermentation, estimated from butyrate-pathway genes by shotgun metagenomics. Reported in rpkm.
Why is Butyrate important?
Butyrate supports colonocyte energy metabolism, reinforces gut barrier integrity, has anti-inflammatory properties, and has been studied for potential roles in gene expression regulation. It is produced primarily by bacteria like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia, and Eubacterium rectale fermenting dietary fiber. Reduced butyrate production capacity may reflect microbiome disruption or low fiber intake.
What insights will I get?
Your butyrate production capacity may indicate how well your microbiome is equipped to fuel your colon's lining cells and support gut barrier function. Low capacity may suggest dietary fiber insufficiency or loss of key butyrate-producing species - both potentially addressable through dietary interventions.
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