Could Pills Made with Human Excrement Improve Mental Health? Alberta researchers with study

 

A team of researchers at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine is studying whether fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can reduce the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Two studies are currently being conducted. FMT is a treatment in which a pill prepared from the feces of a healthy person is transplanted into the patient's intestine. Poop from a healthy donor stimulates the transplant recipient's body to produce beneficial bacteria. It treats certain diseases and reduces the severity of certain intestinal problems. This treatment has been successful against C. difficile, a bacteria that causes colon infections. But the study finds out how effective it is for mental health.

The study, conducted among patients with MDD, is expected to last approximately 13 weeks. Study subjects will have to make 18 visits at Foothills Medical Center in Calgary, the researchers say. The researchers are looking for 25 more people to complete this study. Participants are tested with either placebo capsules or FMT capsules.

Those with OCD take four months to complete the course. An additional 15 patients are being sought for this study. The researchers said that safety is important in the study. She said that the study will be conducted to ensure that no accidents happen to the patients.