AUTHOR=Xue Lanfeng , Deng Zhiliang , Luo Wenhui , He Xingxiang , Chen Yu 

TITLE=Effect of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.759306

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2022.759306

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=BACKGROUND & AIMS: The clinical efficacy of FMT treatment in NAFLD patients and the variant effects of FMT treatment on lean NAFLD and obesity NAFLD remain elusive. Our study aimed to determine the clinical efficacy and safety of FMT treatment for NAFLD patients, elucidating the different influences of FMT treatment on the lean NAFLD and obesity NAFLD. 

METHODS: We performed a randomized and controlled clinical trial. Patients in non-FMT group were administered orally probiotics. In FMT group, patients in the FMT group were randomized to receive fecal microbiota transplantation with donor stool (heterologous) via colonoscopy followed by 3 enemas over 3 days. Both groups were also required to maintain a healthy diet and keep regular exercise for more than 40 minutes every day. And they returned to the hospital for reexamination one month after treatment. 

RESULTS: FMT can decrease the fat accumulation in the liver by improving the gut microbiota dysbiosis, thus attenuating fatty liver disease. Significant differences in clinical features and gut microbiota between lean NAFLD and obesity NAFLD were unveiled. Moreover, FMT treatment had better effects on gut microbiota reconstruction in lean NAFLD patients than that in obesity NAFLD.

CONCLUSIONS: FMT treatment could successfully improve the therapeutic effects on NAFLD patients, and the clinical efficacy was higher in lean NAFLD than in obesity NAFLD.