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A groundbreaking study from the University of Auckland has found that a single fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) can provide obese teenagers with years of health benefits. FMT involves transferring gut bacteria from healthy donors to patients—in this case, through capsules swallowed over two days. While the idea may sound unappealing, the results are remarkable.
The study began eight years ago with 87 adolescents aged 14 to 18. Half received FMT capsules made from lean, healthy donors, while the others received a placebo. Researchers then tracked participants over four years, using body scans, blood tests, and stool samples to measure long-term effects.
The findings, published in Nature Communications, showed no major difference in weight or body mass index (BMI) between the groups. However, those who received FMT had significantly smaller waistlines (by an average of 10 cm), 5% less body fat, and lower levels of inflammation. They also had healthier cholesterol levels and reduced severity of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that greatly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Even more impressive, the donor bacteria remained in the gut of some participants for over four years, showing that a single treatment can produce long-lasting microbiome changes. “This means participants are at much lower risk of developing diabetes and heart disease over the long term,” said Professor Wayne Cutfield, one of the study’s authors.
The research team hopes to use these findings to create targeted probiotics that could help prevent metabolic syndrome. As Professor Justin O’Sullivan explained, “Imagine being able to program your microbiome to reduce the risk of conditions before they occur.”
This study could pave the way for new, microbiome-based therapies that improve health far beyond traditional treatments.
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