Meaningful Insights Into Your Health
Comprehensive Insights into Gut Health
Gain a deeper understanding of your gut microbiome composition to identify any imbalances or irregularities early on, allowing for proactive management of digestive health and overall well-being.
Recommendations for Gut Wellness
Receive actionable recommendations tailored to your unique microbiome profile, empowering you to make informed dietary and lifestyle choices that support a healthier gut and improve your health.
Ongoing Monitoring for Optimal Gut Function
Utilize Macromo's platform for long-term monitoring of your gut microbiome, enabling you to track changes over time and better understand how your lifestyle choices impact your digestive health.
What will you learn from Microbiome analysis?
Gut Richness and Diversity
A diverse and rich gut microbiome is linked to a better health. Our analysis compares your gut microbiome with that of over 6,000 healthy adults and the Hadza tribe of Tanzania, who are known for their diverse gut microbiota, associated with fewer metabolic diseases. This analysis combines species richness (the number of species) and the Shannon index (which accounts for both species count and their relative abundance).
Existence of Positive Bacteria
"Existence of Positive Bacteria'' refers to the presence of beneficial bacteria in the gut that play a key role in maintaining overall health. These positive bacteria aid in digestion, produce vital metabolites, and significantly strengthen the immune system. There's a symbiotic relationship between us and these microorganisms: we offer them nourishment and a place to live, and in return, they provide essential health benefits to our bodies. It is imporatant to maintain the right amount of these bacteria in your gut to leverage its health benefits.
Existence of Potentially Harmful Bacteria
"Existence of Potentially Harmful Bacteria" highlights the presence of bacteria in the gut that can be detrimental to health if their balance is disrupted. While these bacteria typically coexist harmlessly as part of the gut's microbial community, an overgrowth or imbalance can lead to health issues. This factor underscores the importance of maintaining a well-balanced gut microbiome for optimal health and prevention of diseases.
Existence of Pathogenic Bacteria
"Existence of Pathogenic Bacteria" identifies the presence of harmful microorganisms in the gut that are capable of causing gastrointestinal issues. These pathogens differ from the normal, beneficial bacteria in the gut, as they are not part of a healthy microbiome and can disrupt its balance, leading to health problems including digestive issues. Monitoring and controlling these pathogenic bacteria is essential for maintaining gut health and overall well-being.
Results Guaranteed by Experts
Prevention guaranteed by experts
The Macromo Microbiome analysis has been carefully compiled by a team of experienced microbiome researchers. We only provide results which are grounded in the latest scientific evidence.
Certified clinical laboratory
We partner with top diagnostic laboratories to provide quality laboratory analysis used by physicians from primary care providers to teaching hospitals.
Frequently asked questions
Can I consult my results with a professional?
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.
How do I manage my stool sample collection, and is refrigeration required?
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.
What technology does Macromo employ to analyze the gut microbiome?
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.
Who should consider taking the gut microbiome test, and when is the best time for testing?
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.
Is the gut microbiome test suitable for children?
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.
To what population my sample is compared to?
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.
Does a universally accepted "healthy" microbiome composition exist?
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.