Gut Microbiota Alterations in Anorexia Nervosa - Paving the Way for Personalized Prebiotic Treatment Strategies

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the role of gut microbiota in anorexia nervosa (AN), a serious mental disorder mostly affecting women and characterized by severely restricted food intake and low body weight. This condition often leads to medical complications and psychiatric issues, with current treatments linked to gastrointestinal problems and high relapse rates. The study aims to better understand how gut microbes are affected by standard care treatment and explore the potential of prebiotics as a new approach to improve health and weight restoration in AN patients. The study includes female participants aged 16 to 50 years divided into two groups: those with AN and healthy controls with normal to mild overweight BMI ranges. The AN group will undergo a standard care treatment program involving psychotherapy and nutritional rehabilitation to normalize food intake and promote weight gain. Samples and data are collected at baseline before starting clinical treatment, and again at approximately 6 and 12 weeks during treatment. Healthy controls provide data at one time point only. Participants will have their fecal microbiota composition studied alongside assessments of mental health and gastrointestinal symptoms at multiple time points. Researchers will analyze associations between microbiota diversity, serum biomarkers, diet, and clinical symptoms. The study monitors changes during the treatment period to understand microbiota dynamics and their relation to mental and gastrointestinal health. The study is expected to continue until 2043, aiming to pave the way for personalized prebiotic treatments for AN.

Norwegian Microbiota Study in Anorexia Nervosa