Effect of fiber supplementation on the microbiota in critically ill patients

Figure 5 Phylogenetic distribution at level 1 (“Phylum/Class” level) by HITChip analysis. Lentispaerea is the spike. This illustrates differences in the composition of the major phyla between 2 patients from Group 2 before and after fiber supplementation (DYS 001 and DYS 002 = patient No. 10 before and after fiber supplementation, DYS 003 and DYS 004 = patient No. 11 before and after fiber supplementation) and 2 of the healthy controls consuming normal food (DYS 005 and DYS 006). The difference in Bacteroidetes composition was striking, with this phylum making up 35% of the microbiota in healthy subjects and 60% in patients. Conversely, there was a reduction of the proportion of Firmicutes (Clostridium clusters IV and XIVa), which contain the major butyrate-producers, in patients (50%) compared to controls (30%).