The Fecal Microbiome Transplant (FMT) Study for Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a severe, debilitating and potentially life threatening illness that is difficult to treat. A cardinal symptom of AN is the mistaken belief on the part of the individuals that they are overweight and must continue to restrict intake. This fixed false belief is a detrimental factor to recovery.
| Condition(s) | Anorexia Nervosa |
|---|---|
| Status | Recruiting |
| Study type | Observational |
| Summary | Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a severe, debilitating and potentially life threatening illness that is difficult to treat. A cardinal symptom of AN is the mistaken belief on the part of the individuals that they are overweight and must continue to restrict intake. This fixed false belief is a detrimental factor to recovery. It is known that AN involves disturbance in the gut microbiome (GM; the microbes that live in the lower intestinal tract). The GM also affects how one thinks and makes food choices - there appears to be a direct link between the GM and how the brain functions. This connection is thought to occur through chemical processes that convey information from the gut to the brain. It is known that fecal microbiome transplant (FMT) has been useful in treating several illnesses, includi |
| Who can participate | Inclusion Criteria: * meet DSM 5 criteria for AN, restricting type, moderate or higher severity, as indicated by a BMI\<17 * Participants must we willing and able to swallow FMT capsules without vomiting * Able to read and understand conversational English Exclusion Criteria: 1. Medical or psychiatric instability needing hospitalization 2. Patients with AN binge/purge type 3. Use of antibiotics or probiotics in the month prior to treatment 4. Regular oral steroid use, or potent topical steroid use on large sections of skin 5. Chronic immune compromise and chronic illness affecting the intestinal tract or metabolic health 6. Pregnancy or intended pregnancy over the time of study 7. Patients enrolled in any treatment program that involves refeeding |
| Ages | 16 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Lead sponsor | London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's |
| Locations | London, Ontario, Canada |
| Start date | 2026-01-15 |
| NCT ID | NCT07143981 |
| Official listing | https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07143981 |