Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston are wondering whether gut bacteria from skinny people could help curb obesity in others.



A new clinical trial -- which is not yet open to participants -- will study the effects of gut microbes from lean, metabolically healthy donors on the bodies of people with obesity and/or insulin sensitivity.

To get the microbes from one person to the other, scientists will freeze the feces from donors and case the material into pills, to be taken orally by the subjects.

"Multiple lines of evidence suggest that gut microbiota play an important role in regulating human metabolism," the trial proposal explains. "Major study outcomes include change in weight, insulin sensitivity, and body composition."



The subjects will take the pills – some will get placebos containing cocoa powder, some containing human feces – for 12 weeks.