[1] The process of fecal matter transplant involves injecting a liquid suspension of healthy stool into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient.
Minor side effects have been reported as mild diarrhea,[2] cramping, abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements,[1] upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, IBS symptoms (infectious or not), constipation, and irritable colon.
Researchers suggest using a large sample size in order to yield statistically significant results.
[2] Fecal matter transplant restores a healthy balance of bacteria within a gut previously disrupted by C. difficile colonization and antibiotic usage.
Fecal matter transplant colonizes the gut with microbiota that suppress C. difficile, rebuilds a stable microbiome,[1] and restores function.
[2] Another systematic review of 317 patients age 2-95, (average of 53 years) showed resolution of C. difficile 92% of the time after treatment by fecal matter transplant.
[6] Fecal microbiota spores, live (Vowst) was approved for medical use in the United States in April 2023.
Additional benefits of colonoscopy are recolonization with favorable bacteria, bowel cleaning to rid residual C. difficile spores, injection of a larger volume of stool sample than other methods and it allows visualization of the colon to rule out other disease.
[2] Administration routes are typically decided on a case-by-case basis [2] and account for some differences in resolution and relapse rates.
[5] Microbiota modulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis (HPA axis), which controls reactions to stress and regulates digestion, immune system, mood, and emotions.
A clinical trial of 18 ASD children undergoing 2-week antibiotic treatment, bowel cleanse, followed by extended fecal matter transplant showed an 80% reduction of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Behavioral ASD symptoms also showed significant improvement that persisted up to 8 weeks after treatment ended.
Probiotics also help strengthen tight junctions, multiprotein complexes lining the intestines (as well as other organs and regions of the body) to prevent passage of materials.
Success in treatment depends on whether single or mixed strains are administered, dose, and specific bacterial species.
There is evidence that disruption of the microbiome may promote overproduction of Clostridium tetani, a neurotoxin producing bacteria that may contribute to symptoms of autism.
Administration of an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) showed a 3-point decrease in score (i.e. an improvement in core autistic symptoms) in the social affect domain.
[14] Microbiota reports consistently show significant differences in the gut of autistic patients compared to non-autistic.
Synbiotics have shown positive effects on obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight infants, and hepatic encephalopathy.