NZ breakthrough: How new gut bugs can help obese teens
21 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM
4 minutes to read
Auckland student Cassandra Lindsay was developing metabolic syndrome when she joined a world-first trial involving gut bacteria capsules. It soon disappeared. Photo / Supplied
Cassandra Lindsay knows what a painful struggle being young and overweight can be.
From physical health problems to the psychological toll of bullying or feeling self-conscious while out shopping, the 21-year-old Auckland student experienced much of it. It s something that, although we can control it, feels very uncontrollable. And if you ve been overweight your whole life, you kind of think, Oh, that s just who I am now .
After 6 weeks: aMD -0.021 (95% CI -0.041 to -0.001)
After 12 weeks: aMD -0.023 (95% CI -0.043 to -0.003)
After 26 weeks: aMD -0.029 (95% CI -0.049 to -0.008)
A post-hoc exploratory analysis also found that kids with obesity who fit the criteria for metabolic syndrome at baseline were more likely to have their metabolic syndrome resolved 26 weeks later with FMT compared to the placebo group (adjusted odds ratio 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.45,
P=0.007). In total, only four of the 18 participants with metabolic syndrome at baseline still had the condition after their fecal transfer. In contrast, 10 of 13 cases of metabolic syndrome remained in the placebo group.
Those who received the FMT also saw a bit of a shift in community composition as seen via gut microbiome profiling, with this shift maintained for up to 12 weeks after the transfer.
Press Release – University of Auckland
New Zealand research has shown how gut bacteria from healthy, lean people can be used to improve the health of teenagers who are clinically obese.
Obese Auckland teenagers who swallowed capsules of the gut bacteria of healthy peers reduced a condition called “metabolic syndrome” that can lead to heart attack, stroke or type-2 diabetes.
The study was conducted by scientists at the Liggins Institute in the University of Auckland.
The success of the trial means that teenagers who received placebo pills during the experiment will now be contacted and offered the real thing.
The research is at the frontiers of health, where scientists are discovering the potential for treating patients by altering the make-up of the bacteria living in their guts.
Press Release – University of Auckland New Zealand research has shown how gut bacteria from healthy, lean people can be used to improve the health of teenagers who are clinically obese. Obese Auckland teenagers who swallowed capsules of the gut bacteria of healthy peers reduced a condition …
New Zealand research has shown how gut bacteria from healthy, lean people can be used to improve the health of teenagers who are clinically obese.
Obese Auckland teenagers who swallowed capsules of the gut bacteria of healthy peers reduced a condition called “metabolic syndrome” that can lead to heart attack, stroke or type-2 diabetes.
Tuesday, 22 December 2020, 8:50 am
New Zealand research has shown how gut bacteria from
healthy, lean people can be used to improve the health of
teenagers who are clinically obese.
Obese Auckland
teenagers who swallowed capsules of the gut bacteria of
healthy peers reduced a condition called “metabolic
syndrome” that can lead to heart attack, stroke or type-2
diabetes.
The study was conducted by scientists at the
Liggins Institute in the University of Auckland.
The
success of the trial means that teenagers who received
placebo pills during the experiment will now be contacted
and offered the real thing.
The research is at the