The Potential Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplant in the Reversal or Stabilization of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: A Literature Review on Efficacy and Safety

Laeeq, Tooba; Vongsavath, Tahne; Tun, Kyaw Min; Hong, Annie S.

doi:10.3390/microorganisms11122840

Open AccessReview

The Potential Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplant in the Reversal or Stabilization of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: A Literature Review on Efficacy and Safety

¹

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA

²

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Microorganisms 2023, 11(12), 2840; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122840

Submission received: 8 October 2023 / Revised: 14 November 2023 / Accepted: 20 November 2023 / Published: 22 November 2023

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gastrointestinal Microbiota Impacts Human Health and Disease 2.0)

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Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects millions of people worldwide, and recent data have identified the potential role of the gut microbiome in inducing autoimmunity in MS patients. To investigate the potential of fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) as a treatment option for MS, we conducted a comprehensive literature search (PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane) and identified five studies that involved 15 adult MS patients who received FMT for gastrointestinal symptoms. The primary outcome of this review was to assess the effect of FMT in reversing and improving motor symptoms in MS patients, while the secondary outcome was to evaluate the safety of FMT in this patient population. Our findings suggest that all 15 patients who received FMT experienced improved and reversed neurological symptoms secondary to MS. This improvement was sustained even in follow-up years, with no adverse effects observed. These results indicate that FMT may hold promise as a treatment option for MS, although further research is necessary to confirm these findings.

Keywords: multiple sclerosis; autoimmunity; fecal microbiota transplant; demyelination; intestinal barrier; microbial diversity; short-chain fatty acids; Vitamin K

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MDPI and ACS Style

Laeeq, T.; Vongsavath, T.; Tun, K.M.; Hong, A.S. The Potential Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplant in the Reversal or Stabilization of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: A Literature Review on Efficacy and Safety. Microorganisms 2023, 11, 2840. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122840

AMA Style

Laeeq T, Vongsavath T, Tun KM, Hong AS. The Potential Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplant in the Reversal or Stabilization of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: A Literature Review on Efficacy and Safety. Microorganisms. 2023; 11(12):2840. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122840

Chicago/Turabian Style

Laeeq, Tooba, Tahne Vongsavath, Kyaw Min Tun, and Annie S. Hong. 2023. "The Potential Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplant in the Reversal or Stabilization of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: A Literature Review on Efficacy and Safety" Microorganisms 11, no. 12: 2840. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122840

APA Style

Laeeq, T., Vongsavath, T., Tun, K. M., & Hong, A. S. (2023). The Potential Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplant in the Reversal or Stabilization of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: A Literature Review on Efficacy and Safety. Microorganisms, 11(12), 2840. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122840

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The Potential Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplant in the Reversal or Stabilization of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: A Literature Review on Efficacy and Safety

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