This is the first book specifically devoted to butyrate and its biological functions in the health of humans and animals. It is the result of the collective efforts of a group of international experts working on different aspects of butyrate. It has been recognised for a long time that the consumption of dietary fibres has positive metabolic health effects. These effects are directly associated with short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate, formed by the microbial degradation of dietary fibres in the digestive tract. Butyrate-induced biological effects provide examples of epigenomic regulation induced by nutrient elements and provide a basis for understanding the full range of the biological roles and molecular mechanisms that butyrate may play in cell growth, proliferation and energy metabolism. This book is a comprehensive collection of highly innovative research ideas, strategies, and crucial points related to butyrate and its biological functions. With a detailed introduction of recent advances in different but intriguing research fields, this book is a great reference for biochemists, molecular biologists, biomedical scientists and clinical researchers. This book is also a great reference for graduate students working in the related fields of biomedical sciences.