The Fecal Microbiome Transplant (FMT) Study for Anorexia Nervosa

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Anorexia Nervosa

In brief

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a severe, debilitating and potentially life threatening illness that is difficult to treat. A cardinal symptom of AN is the mistaken belief on the part of the individuals that they are overweight and must continue to restrict intake. This fixed false belief is a detrimental factor to recovery. It is known that AN involves disturbance in the gut microbiome (GM; the microbes that live in the lower intestinal tract). The GM also affects how one thinks and makes food choices - there appears to be a direct link between the GM and how the brain functions. This connection is thought to occur through chemical processes that convey information from the gut to the brain. It is known that fecal microbiome transplant (FMT) has been useful in treating several illnesses, including several mental illnesses. The investigators intend to deliver FMT to individuals with AN to determine the extent to which this modifies their GM, their biochemistry, their thinking processes and their moods and emotions. The investigators believe this will illuminate important aspects of AN that keep the illness in place, and that this will uncover useful approaches to better treat it.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07143981

Run by

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

People needed

20

Starts

2026-01-15

Expected to finish

2027-08-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-01-23

Who can join

Age: 16 and older, up to 35. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• meet DSM 5 criteria for AN, restricting type, moderate or higher severity, as indicated by a BMI<17
• Participants must we willing and able to swallow FMT capsules without vomiting
• Able to read and understand conversational English

You may not qualify if…

• Medical or psychiatric instability needing hospitalization
• Patients with AN binge/purge type
• Use of antibiotics or probiotics in the month prior to treatment
• Regular oral steroid use, or potent topical steroid use on large sections of skin
• Chronic immune compromise and chronic illness affecting the intestinal tract or metabolic health
• Pregnancy or intended pregnancy over the time of study
• Patients enrolled in any treatment program that involves refeeding

Where it is running

• London Health Sciences Research Institute — London, Ontario, Canada (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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