All articles tagged with #fecal microbiota transplant
In Nova Scotia, Eric Poulin has auto-brewery syndrome, a rare condition where gut microbes ferment alcohol, causing intoxication without drinking; diagnosis took nearly 10 years, with limited effective treatments and ongoing exploration of a fecal microbiota transplant, while his wife advocates via a symptom-tracking app and he has been out of work since 2023.
Transferring gut microbes from young to aged mice rejuvenates the gut by reactivating intestinal stem cells, restoring crypt-villi structure and barrier function, and reducing inflammatory gene expression. The effects are mediated by microbial metabolites such as indole-3-aldehyde and butyrate, with Akkermansia muciniphila enrichment linked to the benefits.
A review of 15 trials with about 4,275 adults suggests that modulating the gut microbiome through diet, probiotics/prebiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation can modestly improve memory, executive function, and overall cognition in older adults—especially those with early cognitive impairment—though effects are limited in advanced Alzheimer's. Dietary approaches like the Mediterranean diet show promise, FMT shows rapid microbial shifts with some cognitive gains in small Alzheimer’s cases, but long-term safety and efficacy require more randomized trials.
Researchers detail auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), a rare condition where gut microbes convert carbohydrates into ethanol, causing involuntary intoxication. A Nature Microbiology study identifies overabundant bacteria (notably E. coli and Klebsiella) and fermentation pathways that drive ethanol production during flares, while fungal overgrowth is less central than once thought. The work also documents a successful treatment: a donor stool–derived capsule fecal microbiota transplant that produced long-lasting remission in at least one patient, implying a diagnostic framework and the potential for microbiome-directed therapies to manage ABS.
New research warns that fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) can cause long-lasting mismatches in gut regions, leading to metabolic and behavioral changes, and proposes omni-microbial transplants to better match microbes with their native gut environments.
The FDA has issued a warning against the use of at-home fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) products, such as those offered by Human Microbes, due to significant safety concerns and lack of regulation. While FMT has shown promise in treating certain infections, the use of unregulated products containing other people's fecal matter poses serious risks, including potentially deadly infections. Experts emphasize the importance of proper screening and regulation in FMT products to ensure safety and efficacy.
A small clinical trial found that fecal microbiota transplant, a procedure that replaces a person’s gut bacteria with bacteria from a healthy donor, may help ease motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The study showed that patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s who underwent the transplant experienced improved motor symptoms and less severe constipation. While the findings are promising, larger studies are needed to confirm the results and explore the potential of this therapeutic approach in patients at various disease stages.
The FDA has approved the first pill made from donated human feces, called Vowst, as a preventive treatment for recurrent infections with the bacterium Clostridioides difficile. The pill contains live bacteria and is taken orally, unlike the previously approved enema-based treatment. Antibiotics can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, leading to C. diff infections. Fecal microbiota products offer a new way to prevent recurrent C. diff by replenishing the gut microbiome. The Vowst treatment regimen involves taking four capsules once a day for three days in a row, starting two to four days after finishing a course of antibiotics for C. diff.