Company willing to pay Rs 1.5 crore to people who donate their poop; claims it can alleviate gastrointestinal, mental health issues

In a bizarre promotional YouTube video, a middle-aged woman from Human Microbes — a US-based company — invites young, athletic individuals in excellent health to apply as stool donors. 

The company, founded in 2020, describes itself as a “stool donor network currently focused on the USA and Canada, but accepting stool donors from around the world, and willing to do global dry ice shipping if possible.”

In a video titled ‘We want your poop’, that was posted on its website, a woman says,  “We want your poop, no, we need your poop! Let me explain, I’m with humanmicrobes.org and your poop could change someone’s life. Recent research has shown that the microbiome, the microbes that live in our gut, help us to digest food and play a major role in our overall health and modifying and restoring our gut microbiome, has become a major investigative avenue for treating numerous illnesses.” 

Half of the mass of our stool, she says, is microbes. A procedure called Fecal Microbiota Transplant or FMT for short, involves transferring these microbes from a healthy donor to a sick person through this process. FMTs offer a potential new treatment option for a long list of conditions many of which may surprise you including irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, and even mental disorders, she tells viewers. 

In the video, they also feature a real-life success story of a woman named Jane, who “successfully cured her bipolar disorder after receiving an FMT.”

The company is offering a whopping $500 (INR 41,500) for one stool sample or up to $180,000 (INR 1.5 crore) a year for daily donations from the public who are deemed a good fit. “Working to find fewer than 0.1% of people with healthy, unperturbed, disease-resistant microbiomes,” the website mentions. 

Is there any validity to the claim that (FMT) can cure or alleviate symptoms of mental health conditions?

Dr Sreehari Deshmukh, consultant endoscopist, medical gastroenterologist and hepatologist, Sparsh Hospital, RR Nagar, Bengaluru, elaborates, “Recent scientific inquiries have sparked a fervent debate over the potential therapeutic benefits of fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in addressing the symptoms of mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder. While the concept may seem unconventional, a growing body of evidence suggests that the trillions of microorganisms residing in the gut could hold the key to unlocking new treatment avenues for this complex disorder.”

A 2020 review article published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, she states, examined the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, highlighting the role of gut dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of mood disorders such as bipolar disorder. The authors noted that restoring microbial balance through interventions like FMT could potentially alleviate psychiatric symptoms.

 

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She adds, “A randomised controlled trial published in Translational Psychiatry in 2019 investigated the effects of FMT in patients with major depressive disorder, a condition that often co-occurs with bipolar disorder. The study found that FMT led to significant improvements in depressive symptoms, suggesting a potential benefit in mood regulation.”

As scientists continue to unravel the intricate connections between the gut microbiome and mental health, she stresses, FMT remains a promising yet experimental intervention.

Potential risks and side effects associated with FMT

As FMT gains traction as a potential treatment for various medical conditions, it’s crucial to address the potential risks and side effects associated with this innovative therapy.

One significant concern is the transmission of infectious agents from the donor to the recipient, Dr Deshmukh says, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. “Despite screening protocols for potential donors, the risk of transmitting pathogens remains a possibility, underscoring the importance of stringent donor selection and thorough screening procedures,” she recommends. 

Moreover, alterations in gut microbiota composition induced by FMT could potentially exacerbate underlying health conditions or trigger unforeseen complications. “Studies have highlighted instances of adverse events following FMT, including gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. In rare cases, more serious complications such as systemic infections or autoimmune reactions have been reported, emphasising the need for cautious implementation and close monitoring.”

Current limitations and future prospects of FMT in treating non-gastrointestinal diseases

Dr Deshmukh agrees, “While FMT has shown remarkable efficacy in treating gastrointestinal conditions like clostridium difficile infection, its application in non-gastrointestinal diseases presents both promise and challenges.”

According to her, current limitations include a lack of standardised protocols, limited understanding of optimal donor selection criteria, and concerns regarding safety and long-term efficacy. Additionally, the precise mechanisms underlying FMT’s therapeutic effects in non-gastrointestinal conditions remain incompletely understood.

“However, the future holds tantalising prospects. Continued research efforts are needed to elucidate the complex interplay between the gut microbiome and various disease states, paving the way for targeted FMT interventions. Standardisation of protocols, advancements in donor screening techniques, and innovative delivery methods could enhance safety and efficacy,” she concludes. 

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