Faecal transplants ease irritable bowel syndrome for three years

Two-thirds of people with IBS who received a stool transplant from a donor with a healthier mix of gut microbes had fewer symptoms and better quality of life three years later

By Alice Klein

Irritable bowel syndrome can be eased for at least three years by faecal transplants, according to the longest-running clinical trial so far.

About 10 per cent of the global population have IBS, typically experiencing symptoms including chronic gut pain, fatigue, bloating, constipation and diarrhoea. Some medications can reduce the symptoms but don’t address the root cause.

Studies have found that people with IBS often have an imbalance of “good” and “bad” gut microbes, hinting that it may be possible to …