The efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of sarcopenia: a retrospective study
Abstract Background Sarcopenia, a prevalent geriatric syndrome, is influenced by factors such as inflammation, immune deficiency, and oxidative stress. In elderly individuals, alterations in the microbiome, including reduced biodiversity and functional changes, significantly contribute to the progre...
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Translational Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06557-5 |
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| author | Bo Yang Xinhui Li Jiahui Wang Yue Xu Le Wang Zhifeng Wu Di Zhao Long Huang Ning Li Qiyi Chen Zhongchen Liu |
| author_facet | Bo Yang Xinhui Li Jiahui Wang Yue Xu Le Wang Zhifeng Wu Di Zhao Long Huang Ning Li Qiyi Chen Zhongchen Liu |
| author_sort | Bo Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Sarcopenia, a prevalent geriatric syndrome, is influenced by factors such as inflammation, immune deficiency, and oxidative stress. In elderly individuals, alterations in the microbiome, including reduced biodiversity and functional changes, significantly contribute to the progression of the disease. Targeting the gut-muscle axis has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate age-related muscle atrophy and dysfunction. Methods This study employed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to restore intestinal homeostasis in patients with sarcopenia. Muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, while muscle function was assessed through grip strength and the five-time sit-to-stand test. Inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP), were also analyzed. Eighty-seven patients received resistance training (RT) treatment, while eighty-five patients received FMT combined with RT treatment, with a follow-up period of 24 weeks. Results After 24 weeks, the resistance training (RT) group showed a partial remission (PR) rate of 54.7% and a complete remission (CR) rate of 32.4%. The FMT plus RT group demonstrated a PR rate of 66.5% and a CR rate of 46.7%. Significant improvements induced by FMT treatment were observed in clinical markers of muscle mass, function, and inflammation. Conclusions These results underscore the promise of microbial-based therapies, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), as groundbreaking strategies for addressing sarcopenia. The research indicates that integrating FMT with resistance training could improve muscle mass and function while alleviating inflammation in sarcopenia patients, presenting a hopeful avenue for effective management of the condition |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8f0a73ffd0344abf96c6267c84664ad9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1479-5876 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Translational Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-8f0a73ffd0344abf96c6267c84664ad92025-08-20T02:39:24ZengBMCJournal of Translational Medicine1479-58762025-06-0123111410.1186/s12967-025-06557-5The efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of sarcopenia: a retrospective studyBo Yang0Xinhui Li1Jiahui Wang2Yue Xu3Le Wang4Zhifeng Wu5Di Zhao6Long Huang7Ning Li8Qiyi Chen9Zhongchen Liu10School of Medicine, Tongji UniversityDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, Cancer Hospital of China Medical UniversityShanghai Gastrointestinal Microecology Research CenterGeneral Surgery of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineGeneral Surgery of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineCollege of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityGeneral Surgery of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineZhangjiagang Hospital, Soochow UniversityGeneral Surgery of Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineSchool of Medicine, Tongji UniversitySchool of Medicine, Tongji UniversityAbstract Background Sarcopenia, a prevalent geriatric syndrome, is influenced by factors such as inflammation, immune deficiency, and oxidative stress. In elderly individuals, alterations in the microbiome, including reduced biodiversity and functional changes, significantly contribute to the progression of the disease. Targeting the gut-muscle axis has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate age-related muscle atrophy and dysfunction. Methods This study employed fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to restore intestinal homeostasis in patients with sarcopenia. Muscle mass was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis, while muscle function was assessed through grip strength and the five-time sit-to-stand test. Inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP), were also analyzed. Eighty-seven patients received resistance training (RT) treatment, while eighty-five patients received FMT combined with RT treatment, with a follow-up period of 24 weeks. Results After 24 weeks, the resistance training (RT) group showed a partial remission (PR) rate of 54.7% and a complete remission (CR) rate of 32.4%. The FMT plus RT group demonstrated a PR rate of 66.5% and a CR rate of 46.7%. Significant improvements induced by FMT treatment were observed in clinical markers of muscle mass, function, and inflammation. Conclusions These results underscore the promise of microbial-based therapies, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), as groundbreaking strategies for addressing sarcopenia. The research indicates that integrating FMT with resistance training could improve muscle mass and function while alleviating inflammation in sarcopenia patients, presenting a hopeful avenue for effective management of the conditionhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06557-5SarcopeniaResistance trainingFecal microbiota transplantationMicrobiota |
| spellingShingle | Bo Yang Xinhui Li Jiahui Wang Yue Xu Le Wang Zhifeng Wu Di Zhao Long Huang Ning Li Qiyi Chen Zhongchen Liu The efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of sarcopenia: a retrospective study Journal of Translational Medicine Sarcopenia Resistance training Fecal microbiota transplantation Microbiota |
| title | The efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of sarcopenia: a retrospective study |
| title_full | The efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of sarcopenia: a retrospective study |
| title_fullStr | The efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of sarcopenia: a retrospective study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of sarcopenia: a retrospective study |
| title_short | The efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of sarcopenia: a retrospective study |
| title_sort | efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of sarcopenia a retrospective study |
| topic | Sarcopenia Resistance training Fecal microbiota transplantation Microbiota |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06557-5 |
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