The surprising health benefits of fecal transplants
A new University of Chicago study in mice reveals potential long-lasting, unintended health consequences from these transplants due to microorganisms colonizing the entire intestinal tract, creating regional gut mismatches.
The study found that transplanted microbes altered intestinal environments, affecting metabolism, behavior, energy balance, and liver function in mice.
Researchers advocate for caution and suggest using microorganisms from all regions of the intestine, not just the colon, for transplants.
Dr. Eugene Chang, the study's senior author, notes that fecal microbiota transplants can cause changes in host-microbe relationships in different bowel regions that may be difficult to reverse.
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