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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07038226

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Via Oral Capsule for Treating Refractory Constipation in Parkinson's Disease

The aim of this clinical trial is to assess the impact of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) delivered via oral capsules in patients with Parkinson's disease who suffer from refractory constipation. The primary questions this trial seeks to answer are:

Does FMT delivered through oral capsules improve constipation? Does FMT delivered through oral capsules enhance the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease? Is FMT delivered through oral capsules safe for individuals with Parkinson's disease? Researchers will compare the intervention group with a control group to determine the presence of a placebo effect.

Participants in the study will:

Take antibiotics as a pre-treatment regimen for 5 days, followed by oral capsules containing either fecal microbiota or a placebo for 14 days.

Attend clinic visits at screening, visit 1 (baseline), visit 2 (4 weeks), and visit 3 (12 weeks).

Collect fecal samples and maintain a 2-week diary of their bowel habits before visits 1, 2, and 3.

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Key information

Conditions

Parkinson Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Constipation Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinsonian Disorders Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Digestive Synucleinopathies

Age range

40 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Kyung Hee University Hospital

Seoul, 02447, South Korea

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged between 40 and 80 years.
  • Voluntarily signed the informed consent form for participation in this study.
  • Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease according to the UK Brain Bank Criteria.
  • Either do not have or have controlled Parkinson's disease motor complications, allowing for stable use of anti-Parkinson's medication during the study period (12 weeks).
  • Meet the definition of refractory constipation as follows:

A. On at least 1 out of 4 bowel movements, two or more of the following apply: i. Excessive straining.

ii. Lumpy/hard stools (Bristol Stool Form Scale 1-2). iii. Sensation of incomplete evacuation after defecation. iv. Sensation of anorectal obstruction or blockage. v. Manual maneuvers to facilitate defecation. vi. Fewer than three spontaneous bowel movements per week. B. Rarely experience loose stools without the use of laxatives. C. Symptoms began at least 6 months prior to diagnosis and have persisted for the past 3 months.

D. Constipation shows no improvement despite the use of various types of laxatives (bulk-forming, osmotic, saline, stimulant, or others) individually or in combination for at least 4 weeks.

Exclusion criteria

  • Individuals with cognitive impairment scoring less than 20 on the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE).
  • Individuals who have contraindications for fecal microbiota transplantation (acute infections, immunocompromised status, or a history of food allergies).
  • Individuals with ileus or colonic pseudo-obstruction.
  • Individuals with a history of major gastrointestinal surgeries, such as resection.
  • Individuals with suspected or confirmed gastrointestinal obstruction or gastric outlet obstruction.
  • Individuals with suspected or confirmed active gastrointestinal bleeding.
  • Individuals with gastrointestinal diseases requiring treatment or medical consultation.
  • Individuals receiving parenteral nutrition or enteral feeding.
  • Individuals experiencing dysphagia symptoms (difficulty swallowing, choking during meals, etc.).
  • Individuals who have taken antibiotics within 3 months prior to screening.
  • Individuals who have participated in other drug clinical trials within 3 months prior to screening.
  • Pregnant individuals.
  • Individuals with other severe diseases that may impair quality of life or the ability to perform daily activities.
  • Individuals with contraindications to the use of antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole) as referenced in the text.
  • Any other case where the researcher deems participation in the clinical trial to be inappropriate for the subject.

Treatment and study plan

Placebo

Biological

a visually identical capsule containing skim milk powder

Oral capsule-delivered FMT

Biological

Oral capsules of lysophilized fecal microbiota

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in 39-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline up to Week 12

    The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 100, with higher scores indicating worse quality of life.

  2. Number of Participants with Treatment-Related Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE v4.0

    Time frame: up to 12 weeks

    Any adverse effects derived from the intervention

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in Wexner Constipation Score

    Time frame: Baseline up to Week 12

    The minimum score is 0 and a maximum score is 30, with higher scores indicating more severe constipation.

  2. Change from baseline in Bristol stool scale

    Time frame: Baseline up to Week 12

    The Bristol Stool Chart classifies stool types on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being the hardest and 7 being the most liquid.

  3. Change from baseline in Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (short version)

    Time frame: Baseline up to Week 12

    The total score range is 0 to 15, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms.

  4. Change from baseline in MDS-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) with Hoehn and Yahr Stage (HYS)

    Time frame: Baseline up to Week 12

    The MDS-UPDRS has a total possible score of 260, with higher scores indicating greater disability. The HYS ranges from 0 to 5, or a clinical staging system that describes the progression of motor symptoms.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kyung Hee University Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • Kyungpook National University Hospital

Registry information

Official study title

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Via Oral Capsule for Treating Refractory Constipation in Parkinson's Disease: a Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomised Trial

Acronym: FORT-PD

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 26, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 26, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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