Digestive & Microbiome Health

The gut microbiome

The gut microbiome is the community of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms living in your intestines. It helps break down fibre, produces certain vitamins and short-chain fatty acids, and interacts with your immune system.

Every person's microbiome is different, and it changes with diet, medications (especially antibiotics), illness, stress and age. That makes it a measurement that can be repeated over time, unlike a genetic result.

What microbiome testing can and can't do

• It can describe which organisms are present and in what proportions, and estimate diversity and the activity of certain pathways.
• Research is advancing quickly, but there's no single "healthy" microbiome, and many findings are associations rather than proven causes.
• It doesn't diagnose digestive diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease or infections. Those need clinical testing.

Genetic factors in digestion

Some digestive issues have a clear genetic component, such as celiac disease susceptibility and lactose intolerance.