Clinical aspects of sodium butyrate application in dietary treatment of bowel diseases

This article presents the point of view of a group of experts in physiology, gastroenterology and surgery regarding effectiveness of butyric acid preparation in dietary treatment in patients with small and large bowel diseases. The literature review revealed that butyric acid given per os as sodium salt (sodium butyrate) has a number of beneficial effects on function and regeneration of intestines. The dietary product of special medicinal use Debutir™ (Polfa-Łódź) contains sodium butyrate as an active substance, protected in a triglyceride matrix, which allows slow release of sodium butyrate along the entire gastrointestinal tract, thereby permitting its positive effects to be exerted on the entire small and large bowel. Experts have pointed out the clinical need to introduce butyric acid and its salt in dietary treatment in patients with intestine diseases. Experts have specified several groups of patients who would gain special benefits from enriching the diet with butyric acid. Use of butyric acid preparations is recommended for elderly people, and for patients with irritable bowel disease (IBD), after intestine resection and pouchitis. The strong trophic effect of sodium butyrate justifies its use in patients with cancer cachexia, with chronic diseases and immunity disturbances.