Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41792366›Full record

SynthesisInflammopharmacology2026

Fecal microbiota transplantation in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (2020-2025).

Sania Ikram, Muneeb Ullah, Juho Lee, Nurhasni Hasan, Jin-Wook Yoo, Raees Khan, Muhammad Naeem

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Inflammopharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
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.

Sania IkramSection of Nanomedicine, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Muneeb UllahCollege of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busandaehak-ro 63 Beon-gil 2, Geoumjeong-gu, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
Juho LeeCollege of Pharmacy, Daegu Catholic University, 13-13 Hayang-ro, Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, 38430, Republic of Korea.
Nurhasni HasanFaculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Hasanuddin, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km 10, Makassar, 90245, Republic of Indonesia.
Jin-Wook YooCollege of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busandaehak-ro 63 Beon-gil 2, Geoumjeong-gu, Busan, 46241, Republic of Korea.
Raees KhanSection of Nanomedicine, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan. raees.khan@numspak.edu.pk.
Muhammad NaeemSection of Nanomedicine, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan. m.naeem@numspak.edu.pk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Although multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been published in recent years, evidence remains fragmented regarding safety and efficacy. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of microbiome-based interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL and Embase was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 2020 and May 2025. Eligible studies compared donor FME with placebo, autologous FMT or standard therapy in adult patients with IBD. Primary outcomes were clinical remission and endoscopic improvement; secondary outcomes included maintenance of remission and adverse events. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB-2 tool. Meta-analyses were performed in R using the meta and meta for packages. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using common-effects and random-effects models.

resultsSix RCTs involving 220-230 patients were included (majority UC patients, two trials CD). For induction of clinical remission, FMT was associated with significantly higher rates vs controls (OR = 3.24, 95% CI 1.43-7.41, p = 0.005) under a common-effect model; random-effects model showed similar point estimate but wide CI overlapping unity. Endoscopic response was strongly increased with FMT (OR = 6.80, 95% CI 2.96-15.63, p < 0.0001). Serious adverse events were more common in FMT arms but not statistically significant (common-effects OR ~ 2.05, 95% CI 0.72-5.81, p = 0.18). Evidence for maintenance of remission from two trials was limited and inconsistent.

conclusionMicrobiome-based therapies, particularly FMT, significantly improved clinical and endoscopic remission in IBD (especially in UC) compared with control interventions, but safety signals and maintenance efficacy remain uncertain. Larger and strictly designed UC and CD-specific RCTs are needed to confirm long-term efficacy, clarify safety and define the role of microbiome-targeted therapies in IBD management.

Indexed as

Fecal Microbiota TransplantationInflammatory Bowel DiseasesColitis, UlcerativeHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRemission InductionTreatment OutcomeCrohn’s diseaseFecal microbiota transplantationMicrobiome therapyRandomized controlled trialsUlcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID41792366

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Registered trials

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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 OpenQuestion graph.