Butyrate and Taurine for Chronic Postsurgical Pain in Adult Cardiac Surgical Patients

This dose of butyrate is chosen to maximize any treatment effect in postoperative pain. Butyrate was reported to be safe at this dose for a prolonged period of 8 weeks. The dose of taurine is considered safe according to the European Food Safety Authority and was used in previous human perioperative trials. A human pharmacokinetic study showed that after taking 4g taurine (32 mmol) orally, plasma taurine levels reached a peak level of 86 mg/L (or 0.7 mmol/L) at 1.5 hours, exceeding the physiological plasma taurine level (0.01-0.1 mmol/L), which is needed to exert its pharmacological benefits.

indistinguishable placebo capsules will be administered orally after enrolment on the day before surgery, followed by daily administration for three months after surgery.