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Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology

Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT)

Evidence-informed definition Updated July 15, 2026 How to cite this entry

Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a medical procedure in which processed stool from a rigorously screened, healthy donor is transferred into the gastrointestinal tract of a recipient — via colonoscopy, enema, nasoenteric tube, or oral encapsulated preparations — to restore microbial diversity and functional balance within the gut microbiota. By reintroducing a broad community of beneficial microorganisms rather than isolated strains, FMT aims to correct dysbiosis and reestablish a stable gut microbial ecosystem. Within nutritional psychology, FMT serves as both an experimental model and an emerging clinical avenue for examining how bidirectional gut–brain–microbiota communication shapes mood, cognition, and behavior.

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Written by The Center for Nutritional Psychology
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The Center for Nutritional Psychology. (2026). Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT). In Encyclopedia of Nutritional Psychology. The Center for Nutritional Psychology.

https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/encyclopedia/fecal-microbiota-transplant-fmt/
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