The effect of butyrate-supplemented parenteral nutrition on intestinal defence mechanisms and the parenteral nutrition-induced shift in the gut microbiota

This study shows that parenteral nutrition combined with a lack of enteral feeding results in disturbed intestinal function and microbial dysbiosis. Intravenously administered butyrate enhances the defence systems of the gut, as evidenced by increased expression of mucins, tight junction proteins, host defence peptides and improved PN-induced aggravation of intestinal permeability. In conclusion, butyrate does not reverse the altered representation of most dysregulated taxa but does influence the abundance of some potentially beneficial/harmful genera to healthy controls.