Gut Microbiome Test: Finds Chronic Disease Causes

Choose the content to read

• What are the symptoms of dysbiosis?
• Chronic diseases that may be caused by dysbiosis
• What is the gut microbiome test procedure?
• What are the benefits of gut microbiome tests?
• Gut Microbiome Test MedPark Hospital

Gut Microbiome Test

Gut microbiome test is an in-depth health check that analyzes stool samples to evaluate the balance of beneficial and harmful microorganisms in the gut. The test assists individuals experiencing symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, fat accumulation, or indigestion, to assess their risk for diseases, including obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, or diabetes. Gut microbiome test enables doctors to adjust the balance of gut microbiota, which affects overall health, mood, sleep, and metabolism. It also allows for precise treatment planning and nutritional advice to improve overall well-being.

Why gut microbiome test?

Sugary drinks, food chemicals, trans fats, or even stress can all contribute to gut microorganism imbalance (gut dysbiosis). When the number of beneficial microorganisms decreases while the number of harmful microorganisms increases, it can lead to a variety of health issues affecting various body systems, including the digestive, immune, and endocrine systems.

Gut microbiome test examines microbial genes that produce metabolites to determine the types, quantities, and diversity of microorganisms in the digestive system that are associated with health. This enables doctors to advise suffering patients on dietary changes, lifestyle changes, and appropriate probiotics, assisting individuals with gut dysbiosis in restoring gut health and treating long-term health issues at their root cause.

What are the symptoms of dysbiosis?

Dysbiosis can cause a wide variety of symptoms affecting multiple body systems, including:

• Digestive system: Gas, bloating, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, alternating constipation and diarrhea, malabsorption disorders.
• Immune system: Chronic acne, atopic dermatitis, recurring skin rashes.
• Nervous system: Chronic fatigue, brain fog, ADHD, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, forgetfulness, insomnia, migraines.
• Endocrine system: Metabolic disorders, fat accumulation, high cholesterol, fatty liver, insulin resistance, and diabetes.
• Urinary system: Painful urination, cloudy urine, foul-smelling urine, bladder pain, pelvic pain, itching, and/or genital discharge.

What are the contributing factors to dysbiosis?

Dysbiosis due to the imbalance of gut microorganisms is associated with the following factors:

• Foods, food additives, trans fats, high-sugar foods, desserts, and high-sugar drinks.
• Use of antibiotics and antimicrobial agents
• Use of certain medications and narcotic drugs
• Smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Insufficient sleep weakens the immune system.
• Exposure to toxins contaminating foods or the environment.
• Stress, which impairs gut function and reduces the number of beneficial microorganisms.

Chronic diseases that may be caused by dysbiosis

Prolonged dysbiosis can result in the accumulation of chronic diseases in various systems, including the following:

1. Gastrointestinal Diseases:

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Clostridium difficile (C. diff)
• Colorectal and other gastrointestinal cancers, e.g., gastric cancer, colon cancer
• Food allergy, Celiac disease
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Malabsorption syndrome

2. Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases:

• Obesity, metabolic syndrome
• Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver cirrhosis
• Cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

3. Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Asthma and allergies

4. Neurological and Mental Health Conditions:

• Mood disorders
• Migraine
• Depression, anxiety
• Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's diseases

What is the gut microbiome test procedure?

MedPark Hospital performs gut microbiome tests on stool samples using Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) technology for DNA-level analysis. This technique amplifies genetic material that specifically identifies microorganisms, allowing for accurate identification of gut microorganism types and quantities. The results are then further analyzed for both beneficial and harmful microbes in the digestive ecosystem, as well as to assess gut microbiome density and monitor for changes or imbalances in the target microorganisms.

Preparation Before Collecting Stool Samples

• Stop taking antibiotics for at least 4 weeks.
• Stop using laxatives, antacids, and probiotics for at least 1 week.
• Avoid enemas for at least 1 week.
• Foods and drinks can be consumed as usual before collecting a stool sample.

Stool Sample Collection Procedure

• The medical staff will provide a sterile container to collect the stool sample (container/spoon/swab).
• Patients use a spoon or swab to collect a thumb-sized (4-5 gram) stool sample from the anus and place it in sterile containers.
• Close the container tightly. Recheck the name, surname, and patient identification number (HN) before submitting the container for testing.

Testing Procedure and Result Notification

• The medical specialist extracts microbial DNA from stool samples using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). This technique amplifies genetic material specific to the target microorganism, allowing for precise identification and quantification of microbiota.
• The qPCR results determine the absolute quantity of microorganisms. The results are then compared to a reference standardized database to identify abnormalities or imbalances in microorganisms, which aids in assessing gastrointestinal health and disease management.
• The doctor schedules a follow-up appointment to notify the patient of the gut microbiome test results, which may reveal conditions related to chronic dysbiosis, as well as assess disease risk and provide advice on dietary recommendations to increase beneficial probiotic and prebiotic intake, lifestyle changes, and modifying sleep and exercise habits, and create a comprehensive treatment plan to treat chronic diseases at their root cause.

What are the benefits of gut microbiome tests?

• Identify the underlying causes of chronic diseases that are difficult to diagnose with conventional tests, such as allergies, chronic acne, and migraines.
• Examine the immune system, which is over 70% reliant on gut microbiota, which includes both beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms.
• Evaluate microorganisms that affect neurotransmitters such as serotonin, which is linked to stress, anxiety, and depression.
• Create a personalized nutritional plan that includes probiotic and prebiotic supplements tailored to your specific needs.
• Prevent and reduce the long-term risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and chronic inflammatory diseases, which are linked to gut microbiota imbalance.

Gut Microbiome Test MedPark Hospital

Gastrointestinal and Liver Center, MedPark Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, provides gut microbiome tests to detect functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders in the digestive system, led by a team of experienced gastrointestinal and liver specialists, utilizing ISO 15189 and ISO 15190 certified clinical laboratories and advanced quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology, enabling accurate, timely, and precise results, leading to targeted diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, personalized treatment plans, and a chance of cure, lowering the risk of future complications, and systematically improving your overall health.

FAQ

Is it true that eating too few vegetables and drinking too little water leads to chronic constipation?

Chronic constipation is not always caused by an insufficient intake of vegetables or water. It could also be due to an imbalance of gut microorganisms, which causes dry, hard, and difficult-to-pass stools. Additionally, an overgrowth of certain bacteria in the small intestine can slow bowel peristalsis, causing food to remain in the intestines longer, resulting in gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and chronic constipation.

A proper balance of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms is therefore essential for the digestive system, nutrient absorption, and the normal function of the immune system. Dysbiosis can occur when the number of beneficial bacteria declines while the number of harmful bacteria increases, resulting in digestive issues.