I've been having gut issues. Is a gut microbiome test actually worth getting?
The question, asked by a woman aged 30 to 44
I've been dealing with bloating, irregular bowel movements and some stomach pain, for a while. I keep coming across gut microbiome tests. I'm wondering if they can actually help identify what's causing these kinds of symptoms. I'm not sure whether this is something I should get tested for or if there are useful tests I should consider first. How do you decide when a gut microbiome test is appropriate?
This is, in fact, a good question to ask before purchasing the test, because a gut microbiome test can be very helpful, but only at the right moment. Your bloating, irregular bowel movements, and pain can be caused by many things. Some are quite simple and treatable, like an infection, H. pylori, coeliac disease, or SIBO. These need to be ruled out first, because a gut microbiome test will not diagnose it correctly. Now, a gut microbiome test is useful when Simple tests will show normal results despite the existence of the symptoms. The repeated bloating, irritable bowel syndrome-like symptoms, or food intolerance without any particular pattern. You have skin problems, low moods, trouble with weight gain, or an autoimmune disorder. You have tried multiple repeated courses of antibiotics. A good microbiome test shows which bacteria are actually in a good quantity and which are missing. It tells how well you are digesting food and whether there is any sign of inflammation. It shows how many SCFAs your gut is producing regularly.
Suggested Tests
First-line tests, to rule out common and treatable causes: Faecal calprotectin Stool routine and microscopy Coeliac screen with tTG-IgA and total IgA H. pylori stool antigen Hydrogen and methane breath test, to check for SIBO CBC and ferritin, to look for anaemia or poor absorption
How Clinic Living Plus Can Help
At CLP, gut microbiome testing is one of the most important tools. However, our doctor will only do it if it’s useful and if it can help with your treatment in any way. The first thing, as mentioned, is the right test and the right doctor, who will help with any infection like H. pylori, coeliac disease, and SIBO. If the reports are still not clear, we then move towards microbiome testing. Now, a microbiome report can be detailed, so our team of experts- that is, our functional medicine doctor and nutrition team simplify it by providing you with guidance on what to eat, what to avoid, and what supplements to take. A personalised protocol is built for you, which can include prebiotics, probiotics, gut lining support, and, where useful, peptide therapy or ozone therapy, based on the test results instead of generic advice. While our nutritional team makes your diet plan around your likings, we even have our executive chef train your cook. Whenever required, we retest to show you how your gut has changed.
While most labs only share reports, we provide support to heal it.
Lifestyle & Nutrition Tips
Incorporate a range of foods in your diet such as millets, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Also incorporate both prebiotics and probiotics, as these may be an effective source of healthy gut bacteria. Reduce intake of all processed foods and beverages. Avoid taking any form of medicine without a doctor’s recommendation for a gut supplement.
What to Do Next
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