ArticleBMC geriatrics2026
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of fecal microbiota transplantation from young physically active donors to promote resilient aging: clinical trial protocol (ARMOR study).
Article in BMC geriatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06649981 (Intestinal Microbiota Transplant as a Strategy to Enhance the Resilience Capacity of the Elderly Aiming to Retain Muscular, Cognitive, and Metabolic Functions in a Stressful Environment.), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Intestinal Microbiota Transplant as a Strategy to Enhance the Resilience Capacity of the Elderly Aiming to Retain Muscular, Cognitive, and Metabolic Functions in a Stressful Environment.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Can live microbial interventions support healthy aging? A systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive and muscle outcomes in aging adults.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Gut-muscle axis in sarcopenia: from mechanisms to microbiome-based therapies.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength in older adults, is a key determinant of frailty and functional decline. Affecting up to 15% of individuals aged 65–80 years and more than 50% of those over 80, sarcopenia not only compromises physical autonomy but also increases the risk of metabolic dysfunction and cognitive decline. Emerging evidence suggests that age-related gut microbiota dysbiosis contributes to these impairments by reducing microbial diversity and altering host metabolic signaling, leading to chronic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. The present study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of oral fecal microbiota transplantation derived from young, physically active donors administered to older adults, focusing on outcomes related to functional autonomy, muscle performance, metabolism and cognition.
methodsThis is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving community-dwelling adults aged 65–84 years. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either FMT capsules or placebo following a short course of oral rifaximin (or placebo). Assessments will be performed at baseline and at 4, 8, and 20 weeks post-intervention. The primary outcomes are safety and tolerability, as well as changes in the Global Index of Functional Autonomy (GDLAM battery) and muscle strength. Secondary outcomes include gait speed, body composition (DXA), metabolic biomarkers, gut microbiota composition (shotgun metagenomics), cognitive performance, and psychological well-being. EXPECTED IMPACT: By restoring microbial diversity and function, FMT from young, active donors may enhance muscle quality, cognitive resilience, and metabolic health in older adults. This study introduces a novel, non-invasive therapeutic approach based on lyophilized and encapsulated microbiota, offering a feasible and scalable strategy to promote healthy aging.
trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06649981. Date of registration October 21, 2024.
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Registered trials
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.