There is not enough data to recommend fecal microbiota transplant as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, according to a study in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology.
Study authors reviewed recent findings related to the use of FMT in IBD patients.
Here are five insights:
1. Through reviews, researchers identified four case series involving 27 ulcerative colitis patients with a pooled remission rate of 24 percent.
2. They also found two randomized controlled trials evaluating a total of 123 ulcerative colitis patients, which have conflicting results.
3. They found four case series involving 38 patients with Crohn's disease with a clinical response in 60.5 percent.
4. There were no randomized trials related to FMT and Crohn's disease.
5. Thus, study authors conclude that more studies are needed to establish the efficacy of FMT for the treatment of IBD.