Katrine Lundby Høyer, MD and PhD student, hopes to replicate the study on a larger scale. Credit Claus Hastrup, Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus

A newly published study from Aarhus University Hospital has found that faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) could be a game-changer for patients with type 1 diabetes suffering from severe gastrointestinal issues known as diabetic gastroenteropathy. This condition affects up to a quarter of individuals with type 1 diabetes, causing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhoea due to nerve damage impacting gut motility and microbiota composition.

What is Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)? FMT involves transferring gut bacteria from healthy donors to patients, and it’s already known to be effective for certain infections. This study marks the first time FMT has been tested specifically on diabetic gastroenteropathy patients.

Promising Results In this groundbreaking study, led by PhD student Katrine Lundby Høyer, 20 patients were randomly assigned to receive either donor feces capsules or a placebo. After four weeks, all participants received donor feces. The results were encouraging:

• Significant Symptom Reduction: Patients receiving FMT saw their symptoms improve significantly, with scores on the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale dropping from 58 to 35, compared to a smaller drop from 64 to 56 in the placebo group.
• Improved Quality of Life: Quality of life scores increased notably in the FMT group, rising from 108 to 140, while the placebo group saw a smaller improvement from 77 to 92.
• Mild Side Effects: The side effects were mild and short-lived, such as diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain, with no severe side effects reported.

Why It Matters This study highlights FMT as a potentially safe and effective treatment for diabetic gastroenteropathy, offering new hope for patients who have limited treatment options. According to Høyer, “For some patients, this treatment means they can regain control over their daily lives. The method has great potential, and we hope to replicate the study on a larger scale to ensure more patients can benefit.”

Looking Ahead While the results are promising, researchers emphasize the need for further research to uncover long-term effects and identify which patients will benefit the most. Klaus Krogh, professor and Chief Physician at Aarhus University Hospital, expressed his optimism about the collaboration and future research opportunities.

Next Steps Researchers are now focused on expanding the study to larger groups and investigating how to make the treatment more accessible to patients in need. As Klaus Krogh puts it, “The results look like a breakthrough. I hope we will have the opportunity to conduct further research in the coming years.”

For more updates on this groundbreaking research, stay tuned to Aarhus University Hospital’s future publications and advancements.

This exciting study brings a glimmer of hope for diabetes patients struggling with severe gastrointestinal issues. Stay informed about the latest advancements and potential treatments that could transform lives.