In a protein-rich diet lacking sufficient fiber, protein fermentation can produce isobutyrate, which can fulfill many of butyrate's signaling functions in the gut.

“if you eat a more protein rich diet that doesn't have as much fiber you're going to be getting protein fermentation into isobutyrate and isobutyrate can fulfill a lot of the functions of butyrate in the gut in terms of signaling”

“as i heard you talk about it in ancestral health symposium there are some good papers showing that isobutyrate can trigger the same receptors as butyrate as you hinted at in your discussion there butyrate does more than just fuel the colonic epithelial cells it touches receptors it has a singling role and guess what isobutyrate can do the same thing sometimes even more efficaciously”