Faecal microbiota transplantation alleviates symptoms of depression in individuals with irritable bowel syndrome: A case series
Open accessAbstract
Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects more than 260 million individuals worldwide. The aetiology of depression is likely multifactorial with biological, psychological and environmental factors. Subsequently, depression can present as a number of different subtypes with varying chronicity and severity. Recently, the gut microbiome has been implicated in many gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal conditions including depression. Neurological systemic effects on host biology via the gut microbiome can occur through the bidirectional link known as the gut-brain axis. Dysbiosis is the imbalance of gut flora which may instigate a dysregulated immune response and lead to disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. In this case series, depression and irritable bowel syndrome may have a shared pathogenesis. Our study aimed to explore the effects of faecal microbiota transplantation, a procedure in which a healthy donor’s microbiota is transplanted into an unwell recipient, in three cases of concomitant depression and irritable bowel syndrome. A single centre, retrospective medical records review assessed demographics, diagnosis, medications, symptoms and medical history of the cases to determine the outcome of a faecal microbiota transplantation. Despite varying symptom onsets, types and levels of neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms there was an objective improvement in mood, medication and/or symptoms reported by the patient and/or attending physician. These results demonstrate a modest improvement in both depression and irritable bowel syndrome which would benefit from further investigation by randomised controlled trials. Faecal microbiota transplantation may be a potential adjunct therapy for treating depression and irritable bowel syndrome through the gut-brain axis.
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These results are consistent with previous reports that ceftriaxone could improve the motor dysfunction of PD.
“These results are consistent with previous reports that ceftriaxone could improve the motor dysfunction of PD [20, 22].”
From Neuroprotective Effect of Ceftriaxone on MPTP‐Induced Parkinson’s Disease Mouse Model by Regulating Inflammation and Intestinal Microbiota (2021) · cites this paper as [22]
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- Authors
- Collyer, R., Clancy, A., & Borody, T.
- Affiliations
- Centre For Digestive Diseases (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Borody, Thomas
- Venue
- Medicine in Microecology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-12
- Volume
- 6
- Pages
- 100029
- ISSN
- 2590-0978 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3096574590
- Cited by
- 19
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4
- FWCI
- 0.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Medicine in Microecology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- IBS
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Keywords
- fecal microbiota transplantation, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, gut-brain axis, gut dysbiosis, gut microbiota, mood improvement, adjunctive therapy
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