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Gut Microbiome

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What is the gut microbiome?

Our intestines are host to trillions of microbes, making it the most diverse microbiome we have, affecting every stage of our life. From the moment we are born, we begin populating our gut microbiome, some of which help us to extract energy from non-digestible components of milk. As we age, the microbiome plays a large part in digestion control, generate metabolites to provide nutrition, and helps train our immune system to protect helpful bacteria and recognize bad bacteria.

Generally, the gut microbiome is closely linked to our health through the gut-brain axis affecting the development of brain and mental health conditions. It is also involved in energy acquisition from eating, protection from bad microbes, and the building of vitamins & metabolites that boost our wellness.

Genetic Analysis

What is the difference between bacterial diversity and comprehensive microbiome analysis?

Both provide an understanding of whether or not your microbes are within a healthy balance or if there is a larger proportion of microbe communities that can cause health problems.

Bacterial diversity analysis looks at a single gene (16S rRNA) in two types of microbes (bacteria and archaea) providing a report similar to a general census being done by the government. Your report will include the diversity of different microbe populations, this is called a taxonomic profile.
Comprehensive microbiome analysis looks at all of the genes in five types of microbes (bacteria, archaea, fungus, parasites, and viruses) providing a detailed report on the identity of the microbes, with a more complete census as well as a list of antibiotic resistance genes that were found to inform what antibiotic treatment you should be prescribed. Your report will be more than a census, where it now includes a criminal profile for bad microbes. You receive both a taxonomic profile and detailed analysis of the identity and genes of the microbes present.

Small intestine – where food is digested and nutrients are absorbed

  • Important in
    • Immunity
    • Energy
    • Fat and sugars metabolism
  • Relevant health conditions
    • Weight fluctuations
    • Diabetes
    • Liver health (hepatic steatosis)
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs)
    • Cancers
    • Mental health
    • Cognition

Large intestine – where food is fermented after digestion and vitamins are produced

  • Important in
    • Fermentation of non-digestible substances like fibres
    • Fermentation helps specialist microbes grow
    • Specialist microbes produce helpful metabolites
  • Relevant health conditions
    • Heart conditions
    • Weight fluctuations
    • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs)
    • Cancers
    • Mental health
    • Cognition
  • Collection method for large intestine microbiome analysis is by stool sample

How can my gut microbiome affect my brain and mental health?

In the past, mental health and illness was thought to be defects in brain processes. This has changed with our new understanding of how our metabolism, endocrine system, immune state, joints, and gut health impacts brain and mental processes. Research into the brain-gut-axis has become a popular field, with results coming out about its effect on the development of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, metabolic disorders, psychiatric, and neurological disorders. This includes:

  • Developmental disorders during childhood: such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia
  • Mood disorders: such as depression and anxiety
  • Neurodegeneration: such as Parkinson disease (PD), Alzheimer disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS)

How can my gut microbiome affect my heart?

When you receive a microbiome analysis report it is a picture or snapshot of your microbiome at a single point in time. To make the most of microbiome analysis it is suggested to:

  • Atherosclerosis (thickened arteries due to plaque build-up) prevention
    • Metabolites produced by good microbes reduce plaque build-up and inflammation of the arteries
    • Specialised microbes convert cholesterol into another substance that is easily eliminated from the body through defecation
  • Heart disease
    • Microbe metabolism of certain animal derived food products such as red meat creates a metabolite that has been found to be indicative of heart disease and can be causative in atherosclerosis
  • Risk for heart failure
    • Gut microbiome composition has been shown to be specifically lacking and abundant in certain microbes in healthy vs heart failure subjects. Microbiome analysis can indicate a clear risk for heart problems and can inform dietary intervention to decrease risk of heart complications.

What microbiome areas can be analysed now?

You are always able to use the ‘Book Now’ option to look through the products we have, however we have a table here that has compiled the microbiomes available for quick reference.

Large intestine-gut (stool), vaginal (swab), oral (swab), skin (swab)

What about other bacterial or microbe communities that I might be interested in?

We are continuously expanding our capabilities and we may have more services than are currently advertised. Please contact us with any inquiries at info@bioaro.com.