Effectiveness of probiotic therapy for the prevention of relapse in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis

Table 3 Comparison of characteristics of fecal samples (according to clinical outcomes)

Group (sample number)	OTU124/all T-RFs (%)	Butyrate/acetate ratio (mol)
Remission (before treatment) (n = 29)	22.7 ± 13.8	0.165 ± 0.143
Remission (months 3 and 6) (n = 58)	22.0 ± 14.6	0.145 ± 0.136
Remission (months 9 and 12) (n = 56)	21.7 ± 14.1	0.160 ± 0.146
Relapse (within 6 mo) (n = 28)	20.7 ± 14.7	0.260 ± 0.185

Data are expressed as mean ± SD. Because each variable had equal variances, multiple comparisons were performed with Tukey’s honestly significant difference test. Different letters indicate the presence of a significant difference (P < 0.05). “Relapse (within 6 mo)” means that fecal samples were obtained within 6 mo before relapse (i.e., relapse occurred within 6 mo after collection of fecal samples).