Pectin enhances the effect of fecal microbiota transplantation in ulcerative colitis by delaying the loss of diversity of gut flora.
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) induces remission in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, the treatment effect of FMT diminishes over time. Maintaining the diversity of the gut flora for long periods may improve the effects of FMT in UC. Pectin, which can be fermented by gut microbiota into short-chain fatty acids, is postulated to shape the composition and maintain the balance of gut microbiota following transplantation. This study investigated whether pectin could enhance the effects of FMT in UC patients.



Three FMT patients and four FMTP patients achieved the primary outcome. The Mayo scores of the FMTP group were lower than those of the FMT group at weeks 4 and 12 (P = 0.042 and P = 0.042, respectively). There were no differences in the diversity of the gut flora between the two groups at weeks 4 and 12; however, the composition of the gut flora of the FMTP group was more similar than the FMT group to that of the donor at all-time points post-treatment.



Pectin decreased the Mayo score by preserving the diversity of the gut flora following FMT for UC.



Current Controlled Trial NCT02016469 . Registered 10 November 2013.
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 21002, China.
Yao
Y
Wei
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 21002, China. gongjianfeng@aliyun.com.
Jianfeng
J
Gong
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 21002, China.
Weiming
W
Zhu
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 21002, China.
Hongliang
H
Tian
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 21002, China.
Chao
C
Ding
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 21002, China.
Lili
L
Gu
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 21002, China. liningrigs@vip.sina.com.
Ning
N
Li
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, 21002, China.
Jieshou
J
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D000069467:Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010368:Pectins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D010368:Pectins
Diversity; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Mayo score; Pectin; Ulcerative colitis