Effects of Diet-Modulated Autologous Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Weight Regain.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of diet-modulated autologous fecal microbiota transplantation (aFMT) for mitigating weight regain after weight loss, particularly in the context of different dietary interventions including a green-Mediterranean diet.
Results Summary
The study found that aFMT significantly attenuated weight regain, waist circumference gain, and insulin rebound in the green-Mediterranean diet group but not in other dietary groups. The green-Mediterranean diet also induced significant changes in microbiome composition and preserved weight-loss-associated bacteria and metabolic pathways.
Population
Abdominally obese or dyslipidemic participants in Israel (mean age 52 years, mean weight loss 8.3 kg).
Effective Dosage
100 capsules containing autologous fecal microbiota or placebo, administered over the study period.
Duration
8 months (from month 6 to month 14).
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
diet-modulated autologous fecal microbiota transplantation (aFMT) | no change | weight regain | participants in the different lifestyle interventions | aFMT, 30.4% vs placebo, 40.6%; P = .28 | no significant differences in | #1 |
aFMT | decrease | weight regain | the green-Mediterranean group | aFMT, 17.1%, vs placebo, 50%; P = .02 | significantly attenuated | #2 |
aFMT | decrease | waist circumference gain | the green-Mediterranean group | aFMT, 1.89 cm vs placebo, 5.05 cm; P = .01 | attenuated | #3 |
aFMT | decrease | insulin rebound | the green-Mediterranean group | aFMT, -1.46 ± 3.6 μIU/mL vs placebo, 1.64 ± 4.7 μIU/mL; P = .04 | attenuated | #4 |
green-Mediterranean diet | increase | microbiome composition | - | - | induced a significant change in | #5 |
green-Mediterranean diet | increase | weight-loss-associated specific bacteria and microbial metabolic pathways (mainly microbial sugar transport) | - | - | prompt preservation of | #6 |
Mankai-modulated aFMT in the weight-loss phase compared with control diet aFMT | decrease | weight regain | mice | P < .05 | significantly prevented | #7 |
Mankai-modulated aFMT in the weight-loss phase compared with control diet aFMT | increase | glucose tolerance | mice | P < .05 | resulted in better | #8 |
Autologous FMT, collected during the weight-loss phase and administrated in the regain phase | increase | weight loss | - | - | might preserve | #9 |
Autologous FMT, collected during the weight-loss phase and administrated in the regain phase | increase | glycemic control | - | - | might preserve | #10 |
A high-polyphenols, green plant-based or Mankai diet | increase | the microbiome for an aFMT procedure | - | - | better optimizes | #11 |
BACKGROUND & AIMS: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of diet-modulated autologous fecal microbiota transplantation (aFMT) for treatment of weight regain after the weight-loss phase. METHODS: In the DIRECT PLUS (Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial Polyphenols-Unprocessed) weight-loss trial (May 2017 through July 2018), abdominally obese or dyslipidemic participants in Israel were randomly assigned to healthy dietary guidelines, Mediterranean diet, and green-Mediterranean diet weight-loss groups. All groups received free gym membership and physical activity guidelines. Both isocaloric Mediterranean groups consumed 28 g/d walnuts (+440 mg/d polyphenols provided). The green-Mediterranean dieters also consumed green tea (3-4 cups/d) and a Wolffia globosa (Mankai strain, 100 g/d) green shake (+800 mg/d polyphenols provided). After 6 months (weight-loss phase), 90 eligible participants (mean age, 52 years; mean weight loss, 8.3 kg) provided a fecal sample that was processed into aFMT by frozen, opaque, and odorless capsules. The participants were then randomly assigned to groups that received 100 capsules containing their own fecal microbiota or placebo until month 14. The primary outcome was regain of the lost weight over the expected weight-regain phase (months 6-14). Secondary outcomes were gastrointestinal symptoms, waist circumference, glycemic status, and changes in the gut microbiome, as measured by metagenomic sequencing and 16s ribosomal RNA. We validated the results in a parallel in vivo study of mice specifically fed with Mankai compared with control chow diet. RESULTS: Of the 90 participants in the aFMT trial, 96% ingested at least 80 of 100 oral aFMT or placebo frozen capsules during the transplantation period. No aFMT-related adverse events or symptoms were observed. For the primary outcome, although no significant differences in weight regain were observed among the participants in the different lifestyle interventions during months 6-14 (aFMT, 30.4% vs placebo, 40.6%; P = .28), aFMT significantly attenuated weight regain in the green-Mediterranean group (aFMT, 17.1%, vs placebo, 50%; P = .02), but not in the dietary guidelines (P = .57) or Mediterranean diet (P = .64) groups (P for the interaction = .03). Accordingly, aFMT attenuated waist circumference gain (aFMT, 1.89 cm vs placebo, 5.05 cm; P = .01) and insulin rebound (aFMT, -1.46 ± 3.6 μIU/mL vs placebo, 1.64 ± 4.7 μIU/mL; P = .04) in the green-Mediterranean group but not in the dietary guidelines or Mediterranean diet (P for the interaction = .04 and .03, respectively). The green-Mediterranean diet was the only intervention to induce a significant change in microbiome composition during the weight-loss phase, and to prompt preservation of weight-loss-associated specific bacteria and microbial metabolic pathways (mainly microbial sugar transport) after the aFMT. In mice, Mankai-modulated aFMT in the weight-loss phase compared with control diet aFMT, significantly prevented weight regain and resulted in better glucose tolerance during a high-fat diet-induced regain phase (all, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Autologous FMT, collected during the weight-loss phase and administrated in the regain phase, might preserve weight loss and glycemic control, and is associated with specific microbiome signatures. A high-polyphenols, green plant-based or Mankai diet better optimizes the microbiome for an aFMT procedure. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03020186.