Feasibility of FMT in the management of obesity and T2DM
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility of Faecal microbiota transplantation in the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes
IRAS ID
244271
Contact name
Dean / DA Harris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
ABMU Health Board
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In 2014 the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated more than 600 million adults (18 years and over) were obese (defined as BMI >30kg/m2). Since 1996 the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has more than doubled. Obesity is the most potent risk factor for T2DM and accounts for 80-85% of the overall risk for developing T2DM. The recognised complications of obesity and T2DM include cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, limb amputations and blindness which all subsequently lead to disability and premature mortality.
It is known that the fundamental cause of obesity is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended, however scientific evidence has shown it is a much more complicated process than this. The gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria co-habiting within the human bowel, which play an important role in human metabolism. There is increasing amounts of evidence showing a distortion of the normal microbial balance in obesity and diabetes. Bacteria associated with weight gain are thought to be able to induce the expression of host (human) genes related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism thereby leading to greater energy harvest from the diet.
Modulation of the gut microbiota with faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) would have the potential to positively impact the obesity and T2DM epidemics. This would benefit a large number of patients and the cost-savings from secondary complications would be considerable.
Our aim is to create a feasibility study involving FMT for the management of patients with obesity and T2DM. We aim to recruit 30 patients within primary care practices based in ABMU with newly diagnosed T2DM (< 24 months) and concurrent obesity (BMI 30-40 kg/m2) and create a targeted intervention using personalised FMT.REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
18/WA/0143
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion