Gut Microbiome

Yes you can in an additional paid consultation with a specialist who will help you understand your results and give guidance on how to incorporate this data into your lifestyle to improve your gut health.

We understand that collecting a stool sample might seem daunting, but rest assured, our kit makes the process simple and hygienic, complete with clear, step-by-step instructions. After collection, there's no need to refrigerate the sample. It's placed in a special preserving solution, ensuring that your sample remains stable at room temperature, making the process as hassle-free as possible.

A number of next-generation sequencing approaches exist for studying the human microbiome. We have chosen 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. This method targets a gene found in all bacteria, known for its varying sequences that enable us to distinguish between different bacterial taxa. By analyzing these unique sequences, we can accurately identify and categorize the bacterial composition in your sample, comparing it with a vast array of microbiome profiles from healthy individuals in our extensive database.

Our test is suitable for anyone interested in understanding their gut health. However, the gut microbiome is affected by changes such as antibiotic use, bacterial or viral infections, excessive alcohol consumption in recent hours and travel. Changes in the gut microbiome are usually temporary and the microbiome will recover when you return to your normal routine. To ensure accuracy, we advise avoiding the test under the following conditions:

• If you've taken antibiotics within the last two weeks.
• If you've experienced a bacterial or viral infection a week prior.
• If you've consumed alcohol or recreational drugs within 24 hours of the test.

Currently, our test is designed exclusively for adults. The gut microbiome differs between adults and children or adolescents. Children have a less diverse microbiota than adults, with differences in the number of specific bacterial species and metabolic functions. The microbiota of children is still evolving and undergoes significant changes with age, showing a shift towards an adult-like composition. However, we plan to add a test specifically for children in the future.

Your sample is compared to a comprehensive database of thousands of healthy, lean individuals who are characterized by the absence of metabolic, inflammatory and other diseases. In addition, we compare your sample to samples from hunter-gatherer communities known for their high microbial diversity and absence of modern metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Our database is regularly updated to ensure the most current and relevant comparisons for our customers.

According to current scientific understanding, there isn't a universally defined "healthy" microbial composition, given the complexity and variability of gut microbiome. However, studies have highlighted connections between certain bacterial levels and diseases, while other bacteria are predominant in healthy people. A notable example is the presence of bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids, typically found in abundance in healthy, lean individuals. In light of this, our analysis at Macromo concentrates on identifying these crucial bacteria. We assess their relative abundances in your sample and compare these to the profiles observed in healthy individuals in our database. This method enables us to provide a nuanced view of your gut microbiome, emphasizing the key bacterial taxa and offering insights into your gut health in relation to established health benchmarks.