Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39289768›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of medical research2024

Clinical efficacy and safety of faecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review, meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Shao-Wei Lo, Tsung-Hsuan Hung, Yen-Tsen Lin, Chun-Shen Lee, Chiung-Yu Chen, Ching-Ju Fang, Pei-Chun Lai

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of medical research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Wuji Pill andFrontiers in microbiology · 2026
    Article
  6. Review
  7. Diarrhea management: from pathophysiology to microbiota modulation.Therapeutic advances in gastroenterology · 2026
    Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Shao-Wei Lo *Education Centre, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, No.138, Sheng Li Road, Tainan, 704, Taiwan.
Tsung-Hsuan Hung *Education Centre, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, No.138, Sheng Li Road, Tainan, 704, Taiwan.
Yen-Tsen LinEducation Centre, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, No.138, Sheng Li Road, Tainan, 704, Taiwan.
Chun-Shen LeeEducation Centre, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, No.138, Sheng Li Road, Tainan, 704, Taiwan.
Chiung-Yu ChenEducation Centre, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, No.138, Sheng Li Road, Tainan, 704, Taiwan.
Ching-Ju FangMedical Library, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Pei-Chun LaiEducation Centre, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, No.138, Sheng Li Road, Tainan, 704, Taiwan. debbie0613.lai@gmail.com.

Funding

National Cheng Kung University Hospital NCKUH-11304017
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

methodsWe searched four databases for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared FMT with a control intervention in patients with IBS. The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB) tool was chosen for appraisal. Meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted. Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess the certainty of evidence (CoE).

resultsWe included 12 RCTs with a total of 615 participants. Meta-analyses showed no significant difference between the FMT and control groups in terms of clinical responses (relative risk [RR] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-2.33) and changes in IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS) scores (standardised mean difference [SMD] =  - 0.31, 95% CI  - 0.72 to 0.09) and IBS Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) scores (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI  - 0.09 to 0.69). Subgroup analysis revealed that in studies with low RoB and using endoscopy, nasojejunal tube and rectal enema delivery, FMT led to a significant improvement in clinical responses and changes in IBS-SSS and IBS-QOL scores. TSA suggested that the current evidence is inconclusive and that the CoE is very low.

conclusionThis study suggests that patients with IBS may benefit from FMT especially when it is administered via endoscopy, nasojejunal tube or rectal enema. However, the certainty of evidence is very low. Further research is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of FMT for IBS treatment.

trial registrationPROSPERO registration number CRD42020211002.

Indexed as

Fecal Microbiota TransplantationIrritable Bowel SyndromeHumansQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeFaecal microbiota transplantationIrritable bowel syndromeMeta-analysisRandomised controlled trialSystemic review

Identifiers

PMID39289768
PMCPMC11409544

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.