Investigating fecal microbiota transplants from individuals with anorexia nervosa in antibiotic-treated mice using a cross-over study designShow others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: Journal of Eating Disorders, E-ISSN 2050-2974, Vol. 13, no 1, article id 82Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex and serious mental disorder, which may affect individuals of all ages and sex, but primarily affecting young women. The disease is characterized by a disturbed body image, restrictive eating behavior, and a lack of acknowledgment of low body weight. The underlying causes of AN remain largely unknown, and current treatment options are limited to psychotherapy and nutritional support. This paper investigates the impact of Fecal Microbiota Transplants (FMT) from patients with AN on food intake, body weight, behavior, and gut microbiota into antibiotic-treated mice. Two rounds of FMT were performed using AN and control (CO) donors. During the second round of FMT, a subset of mice received gut microbiota (GM) from a different donor type. This split-group cross-over design was chosen to demonstrate any recovery effect of FMT from a non-eating disorder state donor. The first FMT, from donors with AN, resulted in lower food intake in mice without affecting body weight. Analysis of GM showed significant differences between AN and CO mice after FMT1, before cross-over. Specific bacterial genera and families Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Faecalibacterium showed different abundances in AN and CO receiving mice. Behavioral tests showed decreased locomotor activity in AN mice after FMT1. After FMT2, serum analysis revealed higher levels of appetite-influencing hormones (PYY and leptin) in mice receiving AN-GM. Overall, the results suggest that AN-GM may contribute to altered food intake and appetite regulation, which can be ameliorated with FMT from a non-eating disorder state donor potentially offering FMT as a supportive treatment for AN.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BioMed Central (BMC), 2025. Vol. 13, no 1, article id 82
Keywords [en]
Anorexia nervosa, Appetite, Gut-brain axis, Mice, Microbiota, Split-group cross-over design
National Category
Nutrition and Dietetics
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-239108DOI: 10.1186/s40337-025-01276-0Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105004925991OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-239108DiVA, id: diva2:1961680
2025-05-272025-05-272025-05-27Bibliographically approved