Fecal Transplants Help 15 Adults Tolerate Peanuts, Pointing to 10-Year Path for Food Allergy Treatment
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Aug 7
Fecal Transplants Help 15 Adults Tolerate Peanuts, Pointing to 10-Year Path for Food Allergy Treatment
3 articles · Updated · The Independent · Aug 7
Summary
A small clinical trial found fecal microbiome transplants helped adults with peanut allergies tolerate the nuts months later, extending earlier reports that 6 of 15 participants improved.
Thirty-six frozen oral capsules transferred gut bacteria from non-allergic donors, and participants who took antibiotics beforehand appeared more likely to benefit.
Responders showed higher bile-salt metabolism and more immune-regulating cells, while stool from those patients also protected mice against an egg-protein allergy.
The findings suggest the approach could extend beyond peanuts, but researchers say broader use remains distant; even with funding, regulatory approval could take about 10 years.
Nearly 5 million Americans have peanut allergies, part of 33 million with at least one food allergy, conditions that can trigger fatal reactions without prompt epinephrine treatment.