butyrate paradox

A poorly understood phenomenon in which butyrate—which is produced by anaerobic fermentation by bacteria in the colon—inhibits colonic carcinoma cells and promotes healthy colonic epithelial cells. Some alternative healthcare providers regard this chemopreventive effect as evidence that butyrate can reverse colorectal cancer once it develops; there is no peer-reviewed data to support this claim.

All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.