Clinical Trials Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Gastroenterol. May 14, 2021; 27(18): 2219-2237
Published online May 14, 2021. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i18.2219
Table 1 Characteristics of the patients in the placebo and active treated groups

Placebo
P valueActive treated
P value
Total
Females
Males
Total
Females
Males
n
55
47
8
109
85
24
Age, yr (median, range)38.5 (18-75)38.0 (18-73)47.0 (20-75)0.339.0 (18-73)40.0 (18-73)32.0 (21-65)0.07
IBS-D211920.74230120.4
IBS-C2218440328
IBS-M1210227234
IBS duration, yr15.5 ± 7.916.2 ± 8.015.0 ± 9.00.917.3 ± 8.916.8 ± 8.218.0 ± 9.20.9
Age at IBS onset, yr (median, range)20.0 (15-35)20.5 (16-35)19.0 (15-30)0.420.0 (15-36)20.0 (16-35)20 (15-33)0.6
IBS-SSS total score315.2 ± 77.1320.1 ± 77.8286.9 ± 69.30.5312.9 ± 82.0319.1 ± 77.3297.7 ± 82.00.4
Moderate symptoms1 (%)23 (42)17 (36)6 (75)0.0645 (41)30 (35)13 (54)0.1
Severe symptoms2 (%)32 (58)30 (64)2 (25)64 (59)55 (65)11 (46)
Table 2 The response rates of females and males in different irritable bowel syndrome-subtypes at different intervals after faecal microbiota transplantation
Time after FMT
IBS-D
IBS-C
IBS-M
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
2 wk (%)73580.365500.772550.3
1 mo (%)90420.000369750.765600.9
3 mo (%)90420.000370750.363800.6
Table 3 The response rates in females and males with either moderate or severe irritable bowel syndrome symptoms
Time after FMT
Moderate symptoms1
Severe symptoms2
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
2 wk (%)58610.99978910.4
1 mo (%)61610.99978910.4
3 mo (%)63560.77877820.999
Table 4 Irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system total scores of females and males in the two study groups at different times after faecal microbiota transplantation
Time
Placebo
P value
Active treated
P value
Females
Males
Females
Males
0320 ± 78287 ± 690.2319 ± 77297 ± 820.3
2 wk254 ± 106256 ± 900.9199 ± 102205 ± 950.6
1 mo277 ± 98272 ± 890.8196 ± 108193 ± 940.9
3 mo288 ± 90266 ± 1000.6173 ± 116183 ± 1050.5
Table 5 The irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system total scores in females and males belonging to different irritable bowel syndrome-sub-types
Time after FMT
IBS-D
IBS-C
IBS-M
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
2 wk190.5 ± 191.4204.0 ± 92.20.6228.1 ± 116.2239.2 ± 113.80.5202.8 ± 121.3225.0 ± 65.80.5
1 mo177.8 ± 94.9226.9 ± 73.30.02228.8 ± 118.1215.8 ± 115.70.6219.9 ± 136.6197.0 ± 65.20.8
3 mo157.8 ± 102.9212.3 ± 96.90.03212.8 ± 124.0234.6 ± 131.80.5219.2 ± 146.3149.0 ± 36.00.5
Table 6 Irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system total scores in females and males with moderate or severe irritable bowel syndrome symptoms
Time after FMT
Moderate symptoms1
Severe symptoms2
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
2 wk166.5 ± 70.0167.2 ± 55.80.8225.1 ± 114.0259.5 ± 102.30.3
1 mo162.1 ± 73.1179.4 ± 63.80.5229.2 ± 120.2214.1 ± 118.10.7
3 mo155.3 ± 76.9175.3 ± 100.20.5214.6 ± 131.8202.3 ± 120.60.8
Table 7 Fatigue Assessment Scale total scores of females and males in the two study groups at different times after faecal microbiota transplantation
Time
Placebo
Active treated
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
031 ± 529 ± 40.332 ± 530 ± 50.09
2 wk31 ± 629 ± 60.228 ± 628 ± 50.5
1 mo31 ± 627 ± 70.127 ± 729 ± 50.5
3 mo30 ± 426 ± 40.0129 ± 627 ± 50.7
Table 8 Fatigue Assessment Scale total scores of females and males irritable bowel syndrome patients belonging to different irritable bowel syndrome-subtypes
Time after FMT
IBS-D
IBS-C
IBS-M
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
2 wk30.1 ± 3.627.0 ± 3.60.0428.0 ± 6.329.3 ± 7.40.526.7 ± 5.426.3 ± 2.10.9
1 mo27.1 ± 5.226.6 ± 4.60.627.1 ± 6.731.3 ± 6.10.128.3 ± 8.328.3 ± 4.00.9
3 mo27.5 ± 5.727.8 ± 5.00.426.0 ± 6.229.2 ± 5.00.226.8 ± 7.624.8 ± 2.20.7
Table 9 Irritable bowel syndrome quality of life scale total scores of females and males in the two study groups at different times after faecal microbiota transplantation
Time
Placebo
Active treated
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
0116 ± 20130 ± 110.03111 ± 23114 ± 210.9
2 wk123 ± 29120 ± 230.7122 ± 24118 ± 270.6
1 mo123 ± 26121 ± 260.8126 ± 24119 ± 290.4
3 mo112 ± 24118 ± 260.2132 ± 23131 ± 250.9
Table 10 Irritable bowel syndrome quality of life scale total scores of females and males irritable bowel syndrome patients belonging to different irritable bowel syndrome-subtypes
Time after FMT
IBS-D
IBS-C
IBS-M
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
Females
Males
P value
2 wk123.3 ± 98123.7 ± 25.50.8120.5 ± 23.1102.4 ± 28.00.06123.1 ± 24.6131.5 ± 13.00.4
1 mo131.3 ± 20.8129.6 ± 28.20.9121.9 ± 24.4111.4 ± 29.101125.4 ± 25.2130.5 ± 11.30.8
3 mo136.4 ± 16.6134.5 ± 22.70.9128.7 ± 24.4129.1 ± 31.30.6129.5 ± 28.6124.8 ± 22.00.5
Table 11 Faecal bacteria levels in the female and male irritable bowel syndrome patients in the placebo group at the baseline and 1 mo after faecal microbiota transplantation
Bacteria
Baseline
1 mo after FMT
Females
Males
Females
Males
Actinobacteria-0.235 ± 0.763-0.365 ± 0.768-0.250 ± 0.954-0.375 ± 0.838
Actinomycetales0.118 ± 0.382-0.212 ± 0.5360.175 ± 0.5940.100 ± 0.496
Bifidobacterium spp.-0.020 ± 0.607-0.154 ± 0.5390.025 ± 0.660-0.075 ± 0.572
Alistipes-0.863 ± 0.895-0.885 ± 0.900-0.875 ± 0.853-0.800 ± 0.709
Alistipes onderdonkii-0.667 ± 0.792-0.615 ± 0.718-0.650 ± 0.834-0.550 ± 0.783
Bacteroides fragilis-0.255 ± 0.689-0.212 ± 0.6370.175 ± 0.5010.050 ± 0.221
Bacteroides spp. and Prevotella spp.-0.980 ± 1.157-0.885 ± 1.182-0.750 ± 1.032-0.900 ± 0.687
Bacteroides stercoris-0.137 ± 0.448-0.154 ± 0.4150.025 ± 0.1580.100 ± 0.304
Bacteroides zoogleoformans0.078 ± 0.2720.038 ± 0.1940.025 ± 0.1580 ± 0
Parabacteroides johnsonii0.039 ± 0.1960.077 ± 0.2690.050 ± 0.2210.100 ± 0.304
Parabacteroides spp.-0.451 ± 0.642-0.327 ± 0.706-0.425 ± 0.747-0.225 ± 0.480
Firmicutes-0.431 ± 0.575-0.385 ± 0.566-0.325 ± 0.526-0.400 ± 0.591
Bacilli0.235 ± 1.1240.192 ± 0.9910.271 ± 1.1320.150 ± 1.001
Catenibacterium mitsuokai0.000 ± 0.4000.135 ± 0.5250.050 ± 0.2890.100 ± 0.441
Clostridia-0.020 ± 0.244-0.077 ± 0.269-0.025 ± 0.2760.0 ± 0.036
Clostridium spp.0.039 ± 0.1960.038 ± 0.1940.0 ± 0.00.050 ± 0.316
Dialister invisus0.118 ± 0.381-0.173 ± 0.4740.200 ± 0.4050.225 ± 0.158
Dialister invisus and Megasphaera micronuciformis0.059 ± 0.2380.173 ± 0.4740.125 ± 0.3350.025 ± 0.158
Dorea spp.0.569 ± 0.7000.500 ± 0.7000.625 ± 0.6280.667 ± 0.806
Eubacterium biforme0.412 ± 0.7530.269 ± 0.5980.275 ± 0.6400.400 ± 0.633
Eubacterium hallii0.804 ± 0.9390.673 ± 0.8790.655 ± 0.7300.650 ± 0.597
Eubacterium rectale0.078 ± 0.3370.058 ± 0.2350.050 ± 0.2210.025 ± 0.158
Eubacterium siraeum-1.412 ± 0.963-1.288 ± 0.161-1.475 ± 1.086-1.200 ± 1.265
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii-0.431 ± 0.671-0.500 ± 0.804-0.550 ± 0.745-0.500 ± 0.599
Lachnospiraceae0.196 ± 0.5660.269 ± 0.6300.325 ± 0.7300.275 ± 0.640
Lactobacillus ruminis and Pediococcus acidilactici0.059 ± 0.3110.077 ± 0.3340.0 ± 0.00.025 ± 0.158
Lactobacillus spp.0.353 ± 0.5940.269 ± 0.5280.325 ± 0.6160.475 ± 0.680
Phascolarctobacterium spp.0.078 ± 03370.077 ± 0.3370.125 ± 0.4040.075 ± 0.350
Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus bromii0.353 ± 0.6580.404 ± 0.7210.325 ± 0.6160.450 ± 0.749
Ruminococcus gnavus0.431 ± 0.8780.577 ± 0.8780.450 ± 0.8150.325 ± 0.764
Streptococcus agalactiae & Eubacterium rectale0.157 ± 0.3670.250 ± 0.4800.110 ± 0.3040.125 ± 0.345
Streptococcus salivarius ssp. Thermophilus and Streptococcus sanguinis0.412 ± 0.6060.346 ± 0.5560.675 ± 0.8880.475 ± 0.751
Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus0.628 ± 0.8710.577 ± 0.9150.500 ± 0.9340.600 ± 0.928
Streptococcus spp.0.471 ± 0.8330.423 ± 0.6960.400 ± 0.7090.450 ± 0.815
Veillonella spp.-0.177 ± 0.518-0.173 ± 0.648-0.175 ± 0.385-0.150 ± 0.534
Proteobacteria0.294 ± 0.5760.289 ± 0.4990.275 ± 0.5990.325 ± 0.616
Shigella spp. and Escherichia spp.-0.275 ± 0.940-0.212 ± 0.893-0.200 ± 0.853-0.335 ± 0.920
Mycoplasma hominis-0.451 ± 0.503-0.404 ± 0.496-0.450 ± 0.504-0.450 ± 0.503
Akkermansia muciniphila0.471 ± 0.6440.365 ± 0.6270.450 ± 0.7140.650 ± 0.802
Table 12 Gut bacteria levels in female and male irritable bowel syndrome patients in the active treated group at the baseline and 1 mo after faecal microbiota transplantation
Bacteria
Baseline
1 mo after FMT
Females
Males
Females
Males
Actinobacteria-0.250 ± 0.954-0.375 ± 0.838-0.250 ± 0.719-0.2350 ± 0.636
Actinomycetales0.175 ± 0.5940.100 ± 0.4960.068 ± 02550.145 ± 0.412
Bifidobacterium spp.0.025 ± 0.660-0.075 ± 0.572-0.045 ± 0.526-0.063 ± 0.433
Alistipes-0.875 ± 0.853-0.800 ± 0.709-0.886 ± 0.869-0.783 ± 0.821
Alistipes onderdonkii-0.650 ± 0.834-0.550 ± 0.783-0.523 ± 0.699-0.354 ± 0.565
Bacteroides fragilis0.175 ± 0.5010.050 ± 0.2210.159 ± 0.4800.104 ± 0.371
Bacteroides spp. and Prevotella spp.-0.750 ± 1.032-0.800 ± 0.687-1.091 ± 1.996-0.708 ± 0.967
Bacteroides stercoris0.025 ± 0.1580.100 ± 0.3040.023 ± 0.1510.146 ± 0.357
Bacteroides zoogleoformans0.025 ± 0.1580 ± 00.091 ± 0.2910.083 ± 0.347
Parabacteroides johnsonii0.050 ± 0.2210.100 ± 0.3040.045 ± 0.3020.021 ± 0.144
Parabacteroides spp.-0.425 ± 0.747-0.225 ± 0.480-0.455 ± 0.504-0.313 ± 0.468
Firmicutes-0.325 ± 0.526-0.400 ± 0.591-0.546 ± 0.627-0.454 ± 0.483
Bacilli0.271 ± 1.1320.150 ± 1.0010.205 ± 1.0470.042 ± 0.824
Catenibacterium mitsuokai0.050 ± 0.2890.100 ± 0.4410.023 ± 0.1510.104 ± 0.515
Clostridia-0.025 ± 0.2760.0 ± 0.0360.068 ± 0.2550.021 ± 252
Clostridium spp.0.0 ± 0.00.050 ± 0.3160.223 ± 0.1510.063 ± 0.245
Dialister invisus0.200 ± 0.4050.225 ± 0.1580.091 ± 0.3620.146 ± 0.505
Dialister invisus and Megasphaera micronuciformis0.125 ± 0.3350.025 ± 0.1580.068 ± 0.0340.104 ± 0.308
Dorea spp.0.625 ± 0.6280.667 ± 0.8060.727 ± 0.7580.663 ± 0.796
Eubacterium biforme0.275 ± 0.6400.400 ± 0.6330.477 ± 0.7910.563 ± 0.769
Eubacterium hallii0.655 ± 0.7300.550 ± 0.5970.886 ± 0.9930.979 ± 1.021
Eubacterium rectale0.050 ± 0.2210.025 ± 0.1580-068 ± 0.2550.042 ± 0.202
Eubacterium siraeum-1.475 ± 1.086-1.200 ± 1.265-1.295 ± 0.930-1.208 ± 0.988
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii-0.550 ± 0.745-0.500 ± 0.599-0.568 ± 0.759-0.521 ± 0.825
Lachnospiraceae0.325 ± 0.7300.275 ± 0.6400.205 ± 0.5530.125 ± 0.489
Lactobacillus ruminis and Pediococcus acidilactici0.0 ± 0.00.025 ± 0.1580.021 ± 0.1460.188 ± 0.571
Lactobacillus spp.0.325 ± 0.6160.475 ± 0.6800.500 ± 0.7310.583 ± 0.679
Phascolarctobacterium spp.0.125 ± 0.4040.075 ± 0.3500.091 ± 0.3620.083 ± 0.347
Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus bromii0.325 ± 0.6160.450 ± 0.7490.205 ± 0.5530.271 ± 0.574
Ruminococcus gnavus0.450 ± 0.8150.325 ± 0.7640.364 ± 0.8100.250 ± 0.636
Streptococcus agalactiae & Eubacterium rectale0.110 ± 0.3040.125 ± 0.3450.267 ± 0.4950.083 ± 0.279
Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus and Streptococcus sanguinis0.675 ± 0.8880.475 ± 0.7510.455 ± 0.5040.292 ± 0.459
Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus0.500 ± 0.9340.600 ± 0.9280.523 ± 0.8210.604 ± 0.844
Streptococcus spp.0.400 ± 7090.450 ± 0.8150.444 ± 0.8410.396 ± 0.610
Veillonella spp.-0.175 ± 0.385-0.150 ± 0.534-0.273 ± 0.544-0.208 ± 0.504
Proteobacteria0.275 ± 0.5990.325 ± 0.6160.717 ± 0.7500.583 ± 0.498
Shigella spp. and Escherichia spp.-0.200 ± 0.853-0.335 ± 0.920-0.151 ± 1.077-0.188 ± 0.790
Mycoplasma hominis-0.450 ± 0.504-0.450 ± 0.503-0.500 ± 0.506-0.479 ± 0.505
Akkermansia muciniphila0.450 ± 0.7140.650 ± 0.8020.741 ± 0.7130.813 ± 0.915
Table 13 The short-chain fatty acids concentration in the faeces of the placebo group and the patients that received donor’s faecs (faecal microbiota transplantation) at the baseline and 1 mo after faecal microbiota transplantation
Acids
Placebo
Active treated
Baseline
1 mo after FMT
Baseline
1 mo after FMT
Females
Males
Females
Males
Females
Males
Females
Males
Total SCFAs72 ± 3769 ± 23.73 ± 3769 ± 2377 ± 4072 ± 4087 ± 4289 ± 26
Acetic acid42 ± 1840 ± 1541 ± 1740 ± 1444 ± 2144 ± 2046 ± 1340.2 ± 15.0
Propionic acid12 ± 811 ± 512 ± 811 ± 513 ± 1013 ± 814 ± 411 ± 7
Iso-butyric acid2 ± 21 ± 11 ± 21 ± 11 ± 11 ± 12 ± 21 ± 1
Butyric acid14 ± 912 ± 613 ± 812 ± 611 ± 812 ± 918 ± 1416 ± 10
Iso-valeric acid2 ± 22 ± 12 ± 22 ± 12 ± 12 ± 22 ± 22 ± 1
Valeric acid2 ± 21 ± 12 ± 21 ± 12 ± 22 ± 22 ± 12 ± 1
Iso-capronic acid0.1 ± 0.040.01 ± 0.070.5 ± 0.70.4 ± 0.70.0 ± 0.00.02 ± 0.080.01 ± 0.040.0 ± 0.0
Capronic acid0.5 ± 0.70.5 ± 0.70.01 ± 0.040.1 ± 0.080.7 ± 1.30.6 ± 0.80.6 ± 0.90.5 ± 0.9