Gut microbiota transplantation may prevent development of diabetes and fatty liver disease

Exciting new data presented April 18 at the International Liver Congress^TM 2012 shows the gut microbiota's causal role in the development of diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), independent of obesity. Though an early stage animal model, the French study highlights the possibility of preventing diabetes and NAFLD with gut microbiota transplantation -- the engrafting of new microbiota, usually through administering fecal material from a healthy donor into the colon of a diseased recipient.