Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health Butyrate — The Gut-Brain Axis Connector That Influences Mood and Cognition
Dec 29, 2025
Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut bacteria, plays a crucial role in the gut-brain axis. It reduces neuroinflammation and supports brain health by influencing neurotransmitters like GABA and dopamine. The vagus nerve acts as a communication link, transmitting butyrate signals that affect mood and immune response. Optimizing gut health through dietary fiber and homemade fermented foods boosts butyrate production, which can enhance cognition and emotional well-being. The discussion includes a practical challenge to incorporate fermented foods into your diet.
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Butyrate Is A Gut-Brain Signaler
- Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut bacteria from fiber, acts as a signaling molecule along the gut-brain axis.
- It influences stress, pain tolerance, immunity, and cognition by communicating between gut and brain.
Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Effects
- Butyrate dampens neuroinflammation by inhibiting NF-kappaB and altering microglial activation.
- These anti-inflammatory actions protect neurons and preserve synaptic function.
Epigenetic Modulation Via HDAC Inhibition
- Butyrate exerts epigenetic effects by inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs), shifting gene expression toward anti-inflammatory profiles.
- In stroke and neurodegeneration models this reduces microglial-driven neuroinflammation.