On Thursday, researchers published an opinion paper in the journal Trends in Molecular Medicine on how holding poop may save your life. Autologous fecal microbiota transplantation, or FMT, is when you use your own poop to restore your health later in life.
Researchers theorized, “Considering the massive (and possibly permanent) loss of our microbial diversity due to industrial advances, the creation of a global ‘microbial Noah’s ark’ is warranted to protect the long-term health of humanity However, considering the highly personalized gut microbial compositions and the donor–recipient compatibility issue, creating a personal microbial Noah’s ark using stool banks for future personal use might also be a worthwhile option.”
Heterologous FMT is when the feces from a healthy donor is transplanted into another person to restore the gut microbiome and boost health. FMT is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, although it is allowed if a patient gets Clostridioides difficile, a common infection.
There are around 100 trillion microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa that make up the gut microbiome. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome is capable of influencing one’s physical and mental state. With FMT, the hope is that traveling microbiota will repopulate in their new home, bringing balance and health. The cure rate of Clostridioides difficile with heterologous FMT is 90 percent.
Christine Kee Liu, an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University said, “I think there are significant hurdles, both logical and scientific. But I wouldn’t be surprised if this became a viable treatment in the next couple of decades. Science and medicine have achieved ‘the impossible’ before — look at the Covid-19 vaccines.”
A gut is healthier with more microbiota. In a 2022 study, patients with less biodiversity in their gut were more likely to experience heart failure, and older people with more biodiversity usually live longer. FMT has the potential to restore a healthy gut in older people.
The rise of high-fat diets and the wide use of antibiotics can negatively influence the gut. Studies show that people living in urban areas have less diverse guts than people living in remote traditional communities. Despite this, a healthy gut can still be maintained through exercise, diet, reducing stress and getting enough sleep.
Researchers theorized, “Considering the massive (and possibly permanent) loss of our microbial diversity due to industrial advances, the creation of a global ‘microbial Noah’s ark’ is warranted to protect the long-term health of humanity However, considering the highly personalized gut microbial compositions and the donor–recipient compatibility issue, creating a personal microbial Noah’s ark using stool banks for future personal use might also be a worthwhile option.”
Heterologous FMT is when the feces from a healthy donor is transplanted into another person to restore the gut microbiome and boost health. FMT is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration, although it is allowed if a patient gets Clostridioides difficile, a common infection.
There are around 100 trillion microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa that make up the gut microbiome. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome is capable of influencing one’s physical and mental state. With FMT, the hope is that traveling microbiota will repopulate in their new home, bringing balance and health. The cure rate of Clostridioides difficile with heterologous FMT is 90 percent.
Christine Kee Liu, an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University said, “I think there are significant hurdles, both logical and scientific. But I wouldn’t be surprised if this became a viable treatment in the next couple of decades. Science and medicine have achieved ‘the impossible’ before — look at the Covid-19 vaccines.”
A gut is healthier with more microbiota. In a 2022 study, patients with less biodiversity in their gut were more likely to experience heart failure, and older people with more biodiversity usually live longer. FMT has the potential to restore a healthy gut in older people.
The rise of high-fat diets and the wide use of antibiotics can negatively influence the gut. Studies show that people living in urban areas have less diverse guts than people living in remote traditional communities. Despite this, a healthy gut can still be maintained through exercise, diet, reducing stress and getting enough sleep.
