A new clinical trial is recruiting people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa as researchers hope to discover if fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) capsules could help better manage this eating disorder.

Led by researchers at London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI), Lawson Research Institute (Lawson) of St. Joseph’s Health Care London, and Western University, the novel study will investigate whether these capsules can restore healthy gut bacteria (the microbiome), improve nutrition, and modify how people make food choices.

Anorexia nervosa is a severe and sometimes life-threatening condition that leads a person to perceive themselves as overweight and that they must restrict food consumption and/or exercise continuously to reduce their weight.

Researchers have noticed that patients with anorexia nervosa also have a disturbance in their gut microbiome which could be linked to how they think about food and their body.

Dr. Elizabeth Osuch, study co-lead, researcher at LHSCRI, psychiatrist at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and professor at Western University, said:

“There appears to be a direct link between the gut microbiome and how the brain functions. This connection is thought to occur through chemical processes that convey information from the gut to the brain. Since we take the FMT capsules from healthy donors, we think we can enhance the microbiome of people with anorexia nervosa, which in turn could also signal the brain to develop a healthier emotional process, improve nutrition and positively impact self-perception.”

The research would not be possible without the pioneering work of the Lawson FMT team, who are collaborators on the study process and who have customized the capsules specifically for this study. The Lawson team – under the leadership of Scientist Dr. Michael Silverman, Medical Director of the Infectious Diseases Program at St. Joseph’s, and Seema Nair Parvathy, Scientific Director of the FMT program at Lawson – screens stool donors, ensuring only healthy stool without harmful bacteria or other issues is used, and processes samples into tasteless, odorless pills.

Jeremy Burton, microbiologist, interim vice-president research of St. Joseph’s and scientific director of Lawson and co-leader of the study with Dr. Osuch, said:

“Eating disorders can be stubbornly difficult to treat, even with a combination of psychological therapy, nutritional counselling and medical monitoring. As unconventional as the FMT approach may seem, it could give hope to struggling patients and their families – while also supporting evidence that mental health and physical health are often linked through the gut microbiome.”

Participants will ingest capsules and complete questionnaires as well as provide stool samples before and several times after the intervention. They will be followed carefully to examine the effects of the procedure.

Both Lawson and LHSCRI are leaders in FMT research and have conducted world-first studies which have also shown promise in the field of cancer. It also is an approved treatment for patients with Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), which is a condition where bacterium produces toxins and infects the colon causing inflammation.

The study is being funded by the Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario (AMOSO).

Dr. Osuch said:

“Our hope is that the clinical trial shows positive outcomes for individuals with anorexia nervosa and it becomes a standard treatment option for those whom there are currently very few treatment choices.”

The study is seeking to recruit 20 research participants. To be eligible, participants must be:

  • Ages 16–35
  • Diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, restricting type and not in active cognitive behavioural therapy (and not in hospital)
  • Able to travel to London Health Sciences Centre at 54 Riverview Avenue and St. Joseph’s Hospital at 268 Grosvenor Street
  • See full eligibility criteria here

For more information or to express interest, please contact michael.wammes@lhsc.on.ca or 519-646-6000 ext. 65196.

About London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute

At London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute (LHSCRI), our teams pioneer discoveries that transform the health of adult and paediatric patients around the world. As the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), we conduct research where patient care is delivered, working alongside patients, families, health-care providers and academic partners like Western University. We are leaders in advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases and health conditions through a diverse research program that ranges from laboratory-based science to clinical trials. Our research has a global impact as we build on LHSC’s 150-year legacy of health innovation and drive forward medical breakthroughs that make a difference in the lives of patients and their families. Find us online at www.lhscri.ca and on social media @LHSCRI.