All Ive read are some somewhat related snippets:
- that candida and other yeasts are killed or inhibited by butyrate
- that butyrate is usually produced by balanced gut bacteria, but low levels are seen in IBD, Parkinsons, etc
- supplementing butyrate can encourage growth of these normal species
- that sodium butyrate is used as a part of treatment for these illnesses, along with "mold detox"
There was a form of slow release sodium butyrate that apparently made sure the butyrate made it to the colon, as opposed to other forms. I havent tried it yet myself.
Here's one link that elucidates the role of SCFA's and gut health., Antibiotic-induced decreases in the levels of microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids promote gastrointestinal colonization of Candida albicans . Here's the abstract:
Candida albicans is the fourth most common cause of systemic nosocomial infections, posing a significant risk in immunocompromised individuals. As the majority of systemic C. albicans infections stem from endogenous gastrointestinal (GI) colonization, understanding the mechanisms associated with GI colonization is essential in the development of novel methods to prevent C. albicans-related mortality. In this study, we investigated the role of microbial-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including acetate, butyrate, and propionate on growth, morphogenesis, and GI colonization of C. albicans. Our results indicate that cefoperazone-treated mice susceptible to C. albicans infection had significantly decreased levels of SCFAs in the cecal contents that correlate with a higher fungal load in the feces. Further, using in vivo concentration of SCFAs, we demonstrated that SCFAs inhibit the growth, germ tube, hyphae and biofilm development of C. albicans in vitro. Collectively, results from this study demonstrate that antibiotic-induced decreases in the levels of SCFAs in the cecum enhances the growth and GI colonization of C. albicans.
One potential push away from health may be antibiotic use. By killing short-chain fatty acid production vis-a-vis the killing of SCFA-producing bacteria, the gut becomes overburdened with pathogenic microbes:
Antibiotic treatment in mice and humans alters the composition of gut microbiota, ultimately leading to changes in the levels of microbial-derived gut metabolites, mainly bile acids and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)24–28. Alterations in the normal levels of microbial-derived bile acids and SCFAs have been implicated in the growth, colonization, and pathogenesis of enteric pathogens including C. difficile 24,25,28. Moreover, we have recently demonstrated that microbial-derived bile acids play an important role in the GI colonization of C. albicans 29 30
SCFA's not only keep pathogenic microbes under control, they also serve as food for the outer/inner intestinal wall, thus protecting against leaky gut. I will soon experiment with a sodium butyrate product I've seen on Amazon and then post my thoughts on this as results come in.