Stool testing for gut health

If you're experiencing bloating, indigestion, diarrhoea, or constipation, a stool test can help determine the underlying cause and provide clarity on how to address your symptoms. Stool testing is particularly useful for identifying bacterial imbalances, gut infections (e.g. giardia), fungal and yeast overgrowth, as well as parasites.

Some stool tests go beyond detecting infections and imbalances. They can also assess markers related to digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Additionally, these tests may provide insights into inflammatory and immune markers, which can be useful indicators of overall health and the progression of digestive conditions.

Why consider comprehensive stool and microbiome testing?

Comprehensive stool and microbiome testing can be beneficial for individuals experiencing persistent digestive symptoms. You might find these tests particularly helpful if you have any of the following conditions or symptoms:

• indigestion (heartburn, reflux, GERD)
• coeliac disease
• excessive gas or bloating
• abdominal pain
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• food intolerances
• irritable bowel syndrome (ibs)
• inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. colitis)
• unexplained rapid weight gain or weight loss

Additionally, stool and microbiome testing can be relevant for individuals with symptoms that extend beyond the digestive system. An imbalance in gut bacteria can contribute to a range of health concerns, including:

Other conditions linked to gut health:

• anxiety
• eczema
• bone and joint health
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• low mood
• metabolic syndrome
• neurological conditions
• respiratory conditions
• type 2 diabetes
• weight gain

It's important to note that these conditions can have multiple underlying causes, and not all are solely related to gut health. However, stool testing can be a valuable tool in identifying potential gut imbalances that may contribute to these conditions.

What is a comprehensive stool test?

A comprehensive stool test provides detailed insights into gut health beyond a standard stool culture, which can be unreliable or limited in scope. These tests typically assess:

• Overall gut health: Digestion, absorption, immune function, inflammation, and short-chain fatty acids.
• Gut pathogens: The presence of parasites, harmful bacteria, yeast overgrowth, worms, and amoebae.
• H. Pylori detection: A bacterial infection that can contribute to ulcers and stomach discomfort.
• Inflammatory markers: Indicators of potential conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal cancer.

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in many processes throughout the body, affecting overall health and influencing digestive symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, and reflux. An imbalance in the gut microbiome can disrupt these processes, potentially leading to long-term health complications.

Additionally, research suggests that around 70-80% of the body’s immune system resides in the gut, highlighting the importance of maintaining a healthy digestive system.

Measuring the microbiome in clinical practice

When selecting a stool test, it’s essential to understand the different microbiome testing methods available and what each can reveal. Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly used techniques, along with their strengths and limitations:

• Cell Culture: Identifies some bacteria - but only detects ~5% of the microbiome and cannot provide a complete overview of the microbiome.
• qPCR (Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction): Detects specific bacteria - but only identifies a select number of species.
• 16S rRNA (Biomesight): Identifies microbial communities at the genus level - but cannot provide accurate species-level identification and does not measure microbial function.
• Metagenomics (MetaXplore and Salient Bio): Identifies microbial communities down to the species level and provides accurate information on the entire microbiome. Measures microbial function and requires more advanced technology.

Among these methods, Metagenomics (MetaXplore and Salient Bio) is considered the most advanced and I recommend these digestive function and stool tests to most of my clients, as they offer the most comprehensive insights into the gut microbiome. It provides accurate species-level identification and functional analysis, making it a powerful tool for understanding gut health, such as:

• Intestinal inflammation, intestinal barrier, systemic inflammation, motility and digestive.
• Metagenomic identification of 28,000+ microbial species* including bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes (fungi and parasites).
• Personalised insights provides scientifically graded statements on the evidence for diet and lifestyle interventions as well as probiotic, prebiotic, nutrient and polyphenol supplementation.

If you're struggling with digestive issues and want to explore whether stool testing could provide answers, it can help to determine which type of gut microbiome test would be most suitable for your specific concerns. Understanding your gut health is an essential step towards improving your overall well-being and managing your symptoms effectively.

Life is too short to put up with pain and discomfort. Don’t be held back. Start enjoying life and the food you eat again.