Table 2 Characteristics of the included reviews

Narula, 2017 [26]

Canada

4 (277)

FMT

Placebo

Cochrane risk-of-bias tool

Yes

Among RCTs, short-term use of FMT shows promise as a treatment to induce remission in active UC based on the efficacy and safety observed

Dan, 2020 [27]

China

4 (277)

FMT

Placebo

Cochrane risk-of-bias tool

Yes

FMT achieved good results in clinical remission and clinical response in active ulcerative colitis, and there was no increased risk of adverse reactions

Tang, 2020 [28]

China

7 (431)

FMT

Placebo

Cochrane risk-of-bias tool

Yes

The results showed that FMT had better efficacy than placebo, frozen faeces from multiple donors delivered via the lower gastrointestinal tract had a better curative effect than placebo; the difference in efficacy between mixed faeces from a single donor transplanted through the upper gastrointestinaltract and placebo was not significant

Liu, 2021 [29]

China

5 (292)

FMT

Placebo,

Cochrane risk-of-bias tool

Yes

In conclusion, this review showed advantage of FMT over controls in clinical remission, endoscopic remission, and combined them together in patients with active UC. In addition, the lower gastrointestinal route of delivery, pooled donor stool, and higher frequency of administration may be more effective

El, 2022 [30]

USA

6 (324)

FMT

Placebo

Cochrane risk-of-bias tool

Yes

FMT is a safe and effective therapeutic modality for the induction of endoscopic and clinical remission of patients with UC compared with placebo and with a good safety profile

Wei, 2022 [31]

China

9 (452)

FMT

Placebo,

UC exclusion diet, 5-ASA

enema

Cochrane risk-of-bias tool

Yes

This meta-analysis of RCTs showed that FMT had significant advantages in terms of clinical and endoscopic remission in patients with mild to moderate active UC