Effect of faecal microbial transplant via colonoscopy in patients with severe obesity and insulin resistance: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial

Abstract

Aim: To assess the effects of faecal microbial transplant (FMT) from lean people to subjects with obesity via colonoscopy.

Material and methods: In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, subjects with a body mass index ≥ 35 kg/m² and insulin resistance were randomized, in a 1:1 ratio in blocks of four, to either allogenic (from healthy lean donor; n = 15) or autologous FMT (their own stool; n = 13) delivered in the caecum and were followed for 3 months. The main outcome was homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and secondary outcomes were glycated haemoglobin levels, lipid profile, weight, gut hormones, endotoxin, appetite measures, intestinal microbiome (IM), metagenome, serum/faecal metabolites, quality of life, anxiety and depression scores.

Results: In the allogenic versus autologous groups, HOMA-IR and clinical variables did not change significantly, but IM and metabolites changed favourably (P < 0.05): at 1 month, Coprococcus, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides and Roseburia increased, and Streptococcus decreased; at 3 months, Bacteroides and Blautia increased. Several species also changed significantly. For metabolites, at 1 month, serum kynurenine decreased and faecal indole acetic acid and butenylcarnitine increased, while at 3 months, serum isoleucine, leucine, decenoylcarnitine and faecal phenylacetic acid decreased. Metagenomic pathway representations and network analyses assessing relationships with clinical variables, metabolites and IM were significantly enhanced in the allogenic versus autologous groups. LDL and appetite measures improved in the allogenic (P < 0.05) but not in the autologous group.

Conclusions: Overall, in those with obeisty, allogenic FMT via colonoscopy induced favourable changes in IM, metabolites, pathway representations and networks even though other metabolic variables did not change. LDL and appetite variables may also benefit.

Keywords: colonoscopy; faecal microbiota transplant; insulin resistance; intestinal microbiome; metabolic syndrome; obesity.