Could Fecal Bacteria Transplants Replace Ozempic?
A treatment once seen as unusual is now getting serious attention: fecal microbiota transplants (FMT). New research from the University of Auckland shows that a single transplant of gut bacteria from healthy donors can provide years of health benefits for obese teenagers, lowering body fat and reducing risks tied to diabetes and heart disease.
The trial began eight years ago and included 87 adolescents aged 14 to 18 who were living with obesity. Half of them were given capsules filled with gut bacteria from lean donors, while the rest received a placebo. Those in the treatment group swallowed 28 capsules over two days.
For the first six months, the study was double-blind and placebo-controlled. After that, participants were unblinded but followed for more than four years. At the end, 55 volunteers returned for testing, which included detailed body scans, blood tests, and gut microbiome analysis.
The results stood out. Teens who received FMT had waistlines about 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) smaller and carried 5% less body fat than those who took a placebo. They also showed lower inflammation, better cholesterol levels, and reduced signs of metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of risk factors that include high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, high blood sugar, and abdominal obesity. Together, these raise the likelihood of diabetes and heart disease. In this study, more than one-third of the participants started out showing signs of the syndrome.
The gut microbiome appears to play a big role. Researchers found that donor bacteria, and even some donor viruses, were still present in the teens four years later. The specific strains that remained differed between people, but their persistence shows how FMT can reset gut ecosystems in lasting ways.
There were no major differences in overall weight between the two groups. This points to FMT not being a quick fix for obesity. Instead, it seems to improve metabolic health regardless of weight, helping the body better handle complications tied to obesity.
FMT is already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections, a serious gut condition often linked to antibiotics. Researchers are now exploring its potential for other conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease and even neurological disorders.
Still, other researchers urge caution. A study from the University of Chicago this year warned that transplanted microbes may sometimes colonize unintended parts of the gut, potentially altering metabolism or immune responses in unpredictable ways.
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