ButiShield, Kemin’s new gut health ingredient, provides a slow release of butyric acid

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Kemin Industries (Des Moines, IA) has launched ButiShield, its new digestive health ingredient. ButiShield is an encapsulated form of calcium butyrate that slowly releases butyric acid in the gastrointestinal tract. The company describes the ingredient as “next generation.”

“Butyric acid is an extensively researched short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) that plays an important role in intestinal health, which also extends to overall health and well-being,” the company’s press release explains. Studies show that butyrate supports intestinal and digestive health by supporting a healthy microbiome, “serving as a signaling molecule to regulate numerous metabolic processes at the cellular level,” providing energy to healthy intestinal cells, and supporting the integrity of the intestinal barrier, the firm adds.

Many butyrate-containing products on the market present unpleasant odor and difficult handling that lead to formulation and operational challenges, the firm adds. ButiShield sidesteps those by encapsulating its calcium butyrate, ultimately providing more than 35% butyric acid, the company says.

Kemin applies its proprietary MicroPearls spray-freezing technology to encapsulate the butyric acid. This allows for “sustained and controlled release along the gastrointestinal tract—and with easier handling due to its low odor,” the press release states. “The MicroPearls encapsulation technology neutralizes butyric acid’s typically off-putting odor and helps to ensure its benefits are being delivered to the gut, where they’re most beneficial for gastrointestinal tract health.”

In addition to those benefits, the ingredient is non-GMO, allergen-free, gluten-free, kosher, halal, and vegetarian.

MicroPearls technology was originally developed to support gut health in animals, explained Chris Sadewasser, global product manager at Kemin Human Nutrition and Health. “Now, we’re elevating the proprietary application to reach a new level in human health, providing a unique solution to the evolving gut health market," he said.