EP 19 | The Power of Poop: Are Fecal Transplants the Future of Gut Health? FMT and Its Potential For Treating IBD, SIBO and More with Dr. Andrea McBeth

Is it possible that the most potent medicine in your bathroom is what's getting flushed down the toilet every day? Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) – taking stool from a healthy person and using it to recolonize the colon of someone with a dysbiotic microbiome – has been one of the most exciting areas of medical research in the last five years.

The simple power of poop has been found to be 92 percent effective in treating the opportunistic and antibiotic resistant bacteria C. difficile, with patients reporting dramatic recoveries within 12 hours.

Though these "ick factor" therapies remain experimental, having not yet received full FDA backing, hundreds of trials are underway across the country to determine their future in treating IBD, SIBO autism, obesity and other inflammatory conditions. And plenty more people have taken matters into their own hands to try their luck with fecal transplants at home.

Today on the podcast, we talk about all things stool transplants: how they work, who might benefit most, and what we still don't understand about their efficacy within the whole microbial ecosystem in all its complexity. Joining me is Dr. Andrea McBeth of Flora Medicine, who is one of the leading experts in the field.

Make sure to listen to the end of the episode as she also addresses the recent controversy over the FDA halting several trials using fecal transplants and what the future might hold for Big Pharma and every day sufferers.

A quick taste of what we'll cover:

• How FMT works and the best mechanisms for delivery for various gut issues
• Why all the other matter in your poop is equally if not more important than the bacteria when recolonizing your microbiome
• SIBO, IBD, autism, obesity and other inflammatory conditions that are being explored right now with FMT treatment
• Methods for doing a DIY fecal transplant or fecal therapy
• How to choose and properly screen a donor
• The difference between a therapeutic dose for shifting an ecosystem and what you might need to eradicate a pathogen
• Risk factors and why we still need more safety precautions
• Why FMT could help certain SIBO cases
• What lifestyle and diet strategies you need in order for the FMT to work long-term
• And so much more...

Resources, mentions and notes:

• The Low FODMAP Summer Reset Meal Plan
• Where you can find Dr. Andrea McBeth
• NY Times article on the future of FMT, FDA and Big Pharma
• NY Times article on halted FMT trials
• FDA response to the above controversy
• The Wellness Project Book
• Episode 18 on Getting Dirty with Dr. Maya Shetreat
• Join the SIBO Made Simple Facebook Community Page
• Subscribe to receive a free download of the episode transcript

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Disclaimer:The information shared in this podcast is not meant to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, or treatment. The information discussed is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or professional care.