Randomised Placebo-controlled Study of FMT to Impact Body Weight and Glycemic Control in Obese Subjects With T2DM

There is a worldwide epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus continues to rise at an alarming rate. Weight loss is associated with reductions in risk of morbidity and mortality from obesity. Conventional non-pharmacological interventions based on diet and exercise showed limited long-term success in producing sustained weight loss. Although obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may be treated by medications or by bariatric surgery, these alternatives are limited by incomplete resolution of the diseases, high cost or potential surgical-related morbidity. Further research focusing on increasing effectiveness of interventions and new ways to achieve weight loss in these individuals are needed.

Recently, accumulating evidence supports a role of the enteric microbiota in the pathogenesis of obesity-related insulin resistance. Obesity is associated with changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota, and the obese microbiome appears to be more efficient in harvesting energy from the diet. Colonization of germ-free mice with an 'obese microbiota' results in a significantly greater increase in total body fat than colonization with a 'lean microbiota', suggesting gut microbiota as an additional contributing factor to the pathophysiology of obesity. Obese and lean phenotypes can also be induced in germ-free mice by transfer of fecal microbiota from human donors. These data have led to the use of microbiota therapeutics as a potential treatment for metabolic syndrome and obesity.

Clinical trials are being conducted to evaluate its use for other conditions. Early results in human have shown that FMT from lean donor when transplanted into subjects with metabolic syndrome resulted in a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity and an increased in intestinal microbial diversity, including a distinct increase in butyrate-producing bacterial strains. The therapy is generally well tolerated and appeared safe. No clinical studies have assessed the efficacy of FMT in obese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

No clinical studies have assessed the efficacy of FMT in obese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A subgroup of 30 subjects will be analyzed at week 24. The difference and proportion in microbiome in different arms, microbial factors, and trans-kingdom correlation of microbial engraftment will be correlated with clinical data in an unblinded manner.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-70; and
• BMI >=28 kg/m2 and < 45 kg/m2; and
• A diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes mellitus for >=3 months; and
• Written informed consent obtained

Exclusion criteria

• Current pregnancy
• Use of any weight loss medications in the preceding 1 year
• Known history or concomitant significant gastrointestinal disorders (including Inflammatory Bowel Disease, current colorectal cancer, current GI infection)
• Known history or concomitant significant food allergies
• Immunosuppressed subjects
• Known history of severe organ failure (including decompensated cirrhosis), inflammatory bowel disease, kidney failure, epilepsy, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• Current active sepsis
• Active malignant disease in recent 2 years
• Known contraindications to oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (OGD)
• Use of probiotic or antibiotics in recent 3 months