GLUT FEELING

Do you often feel low, anxious and stressed? Sure, life can get overwhelming at times, but what if our mood is affected by more than just our daily vagaries? We explore the link between our gut and mental health.

- Karishma Tulsidas

A few years ago, two Australians underwent a treatment called faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), whereby they received poop transplants (yes, you read that right) from another individual. Both had been long-term sufferers of bipolar disorder, and had tried various treatment methods over the years to no avail. Since the FMT, reports have shown that both patients no longer experience bipolar symptoms.

If the words “faecal transplant” are making you baulk, think again – after all, there is growing evidence that they can help cure extreme cases of mental health disorders.

“FMT is a comprehensive approach where faecal material from a healthy donor, containing a diverse community of bacteria, is transplanted into the recipient’s gut,” explains Gwendoline Tan, chief innovation officer at Amili, a gut microbiome company and research lab based in Singapore.

But don’t go calling your gastroenterologist just yet. Though there are a couple of successful case studies, researchers are still gathering evidence about its efficacy. The treatment is also not available in Singapore for mental health disorders. While the data points are still inconclusive, they add to the bank of growing evidence that there is a connection between our gut and our brain.

Gwendoline refers to a recent case report published by Amili in collaboration with Dr Reuben Wong, a gastroenterologist and founding partner of digestive care specialists Gutcare.