Read our Privacy noticeSwallowing capsules containing human faeces from someone with no food allergies could help people with peanut allergies become more tolerant to the nut, a new study has suggested. The trial, conducted by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, is the first evidence that faecal transplants – transferring gut bacteria from faecal samples of healthy donors – can be used to treat allergies. Three of these five participants improved in peanut tolerance and ingested more than four peanuts before reacting, suggesting that the antibiotics did increase the efficiency of the microbiome transfer. Peanut and tree nut allergies are the most commonly known foods to cause anaphylaxis, often developing in early childhood. Patients will take the capsules from home under medical supervision and undergo food challenges to evaluate for changes in their tolerance to peanut.