Table 1.

Main butyrate effects potentially useful in human medicine

Intestinal level	Extraintestinal level
Ion absorption	Insulin sensitivity
Cell proliferation	Cholesterol synthesis
Cell differentation	Energy expenditure
Intestinal barrier function	Ammonia scavenger
Immune-regulation	Stimulation of β-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids and peroxisome proliferation
Oxidative stress	CFTR function
Intestinal motility	Neurogenesis
Visceral perception and rectal compliance	HbF production

CFTR: Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator; HbF: Butyrate to increase fetal hemoglobin.