Gut Microbiome Analysis
A deep dive into the trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses living in your digestive tract. This analysis maps your unique ecosystem to help optimize digestion, immunity, and metabolic health.
Key facts at a glance
Why gut health is systemic health.
Complexity
Your gut contains ~39 trillion microbial cells—more than the number of human cells in your body.
Trillions
Key Metric
High species diversity is the most consistent marker of a healthy gut and is linked to longevity.
Diversity
Responsiveness
The microbiome can shift significantly within just 24-48 hours of a major diet change.
Fast
Immunity
Roughly 70% of your immune system resides in the gut, interacting constantly with your microbes.
~70%
What we look for
- Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs): Specifically Butyrate producers. These fuel your gut lining and reduce inflammation.
- Dysbiosis: An imbalance where harmful bacteria (pathobionts) outnumber the beneficial ones.
- Probiotic Levels: Are you low in Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium?
Actionable Steps
- Dietary Adjustment: Adding specific prebiotic fibers (like inulin or resistant starch) to feed missing species.
- Polyphenols: Increasing colorful plants to boost diversity.
- Probiotics: Targeted supplementation only if specific strains are missing.
Metagenomics vs. Culture
Old tests tried to grow bacteria in a petri dish ("culture"), which misses up to 90% of species that can't survive in oxygen. Modern Metagenomic Sequencing (shotgun sequencing) reads the DNA of everything in the sample, providing a complete map of your ecosystem, including function (what the bacteria do, not just who they are).
Limitations
- Snapshot in Time: Your microbiome changes with every meal. A single test is just one data point.
- Emerging Science: While we know diversity is good, "perfect" gut composition is still being defined by researchers.
References
Key research papers.
- Structure, function and diversity of the healthy human microbiome — Nature (2012)View source — Foundational research mapping the human microbiome
- Singh RK, et al.. Influence of diet on the gut microbiome and implications for human health — Journal of Translational Medicine (2017)
- Canfora EE, et al.. Short-chain fatty acids in control of body weight and insulin sensitivity — Nat Rev Endocrinol (2015)
Content is educational and not medical advice. For personal recommendations, consult your clinician.