SMM-CAPABLe

The cause of accidental bowel leakage, also known as fecal incontinence, is not well understood. Bowel health relies on many factors including the bacteria that are present. The stool microbiome refers to bacteria that are present in stool. The stool metabolome refers to the chemicals (or metabolites) that these bacteria produce in stool. The bacteria that live in the stool or the chemicals that they produce may play a role in causing bowel leakage, or may be related to a person’s response to treatment for bowel leakage.

This study will investigate if in the stool microbiome and stool metabolome in women who experience bothersome bowel leakage is different from those in women who do not report this problem. We will also investigate if the amount of certain bacteria in the stool contributes to accidental bowel leakage or impacts the effectiveness of treatment.

For the SMM-CAPABLe study, we are collecting stool samples from women with accidental bowel leakage who are participating in the CAPABLe trial. We will also collect stool specimens from volunteer women who do not have accidental bowel leakage so that we can compare their stool metabolites and the ratios of their bacteria.

Women will contribute two stool samples six months apart. Recruitment began in December 2014. Results were published in early 2017.

STUDY RESULTS

Arya LA. Rationale for Investigating Stool Metabolites and Microbiota in Women With Fecal Incontinence. Diseases of the colon and rectum. 2017 Feb; 60(2): 249-252.

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Arya LA, Richter HE, Jelovsek E, Gantz M, Cichowski S, Zyczynski H, Dyer K, Siddiqui N, Carberry C, Broeckling C, Morrow C, Kashyap P, Meikle S. Metabolites and microbial composition of stool of women with fecal incontinence: Study design and methods. Neurourology and urodynamics. 2018 02; 37(2): 634-641.

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