Butyric acid: benefits and sources

Butyric acid is a good antimicrobial, only in those areas of the GI tract having a sufficiently low pH that creates the free non-dissociated form. Only this form can now pass through the cell wall to subsequently dissociate to lower microbe internal pH that creates lethality with all cells unable to accommodate. Such microbe lethality largely depends on concentration and occurs during passage of lumen contents through the gastric and large intestinal systems. Other cells along the GI are unaffected because they can readily employ it as a source of energy and thrive.