Preliminary study finds poop pills may help some adults with peanut allergy
A small clinical trial published on August 5 in Science Translational Medicine found that oral fecal microbiome transplantation increased peanut tolerance in six of fifteen adult participants.
Human trial results show mixed outcomes
Researchers gave ten individuals frozen fecal matter from healthy donors to take as pills. Four months later, six out of the fifteen total participants showed increased tolerance to peanuts. The remaining nine participants did not experience this change in their allergy status.
Mouse study confirms bacterial role
Scientists also tested mice that received fecal transplants from the human trial participants. These animals were protected against peanut allergies, suggesting a specific type of gut bacteria is involved. The research indicates these microbes and their metabolites work with the immune system to influence treatment response.
Experts caution against early use
Although the findings are promising for future trials, doctors say it is too soon to recommend this as a standard treatment. The study authors note that more research is needed before fecal microbiome transplantation becomes an option for patients.
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