How’s My Gut Health? The 4 Most Common Types of Gut health Testing and What they mean.
Gut health is one of the most common concerns we see at EmpowerMed Clinic in San Diego. With all the information on the internet regarding the microbiome, the connection between the gut and the brain, the gut an inflammation, the gut and the immune system, it’s no wonder that people are excited to take a deeper look!
Here are the most common types of testing used for gut health, and why they might be right for you.
#1. Stool testing
Stool is perhaps our most useful tool for assessing the overall health of the gut. Within the stool we are able to assess:
Bacterial composition of the microbiome. This includes the beneficial and pathogenic bacteria, along with opportunistic bacteria and strains associated with autoimmune disease, skin conditions, metabolic syndromes like diabetes and obesity.
Ratios of the two main classes of microbiome bacteria: Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes.
The presence of parasites, protozoa, worms, and viruses.
Candida and yeast levels.
Helicobacter pylori, a common causes of acid reflux, ulcers and stomach cancer.
Digestive enzyme production and malabsorption issues.
Health of the pancreas.
Whether bacterial overgrowth is interrupting liver detoxification.
Blood in the stool - an indication of hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel diseases, polyps and ulcers.
The health of the immune response within your GI tract via secretory IgA.
Gluten intolerances and sensitivities.
General inflammatory levels within the gut.
Whether or not you have “leaky gut” (see #3 for more details on this).
At EmpowerMed, we use multiple types of stool testing depending on the patient’s needs. The most common stool tests used in our office are the GI MAP by Doctors Data and GI Effects by Genova.
#2. Leaky gut testing
Leaky gut, or intestinal permeability, is the result of long-term inflammation in the gut. The inner lining of your gut is lined with billions of cells called enterocytes. These cells are closely connected by something called “tight junctions”. As you might suspect, the function of tight junctions is to form a tight barrier. This barrier keeps pathogens, large foods particles, toxins, and other “bad” things from entering the bloodstream on the other side of the gut lining, but allows “good” things like nutrients from digested food, to pass through. When it becomes inflamed, those same tight junctions loosen up and allow the “bad” to pass through in addition to the good.
What results is a snowball effect: endotoxins from gut bacteria pass through, food sensitivities form, and inflammation worsens.
One of the easiest ways to test for food sensitivities is through zonulin. Zonulin is a protein that opens intercellular tight junctions in the gut lining. Zonulin increases intestinal permeability in the jejunum and ileum (parts of the small intestine) and is considered a biomarker for barrier permeability. At EmpowerMed, we test zonulin levels through our stool testing kits, which are typically a simple add-on to the normal markers included in most stool tests.
#3. SIBO testing
SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) is the accumulation of bacteria in the small intestine. While we do have minute amounts of bacteria within the small intestine normally, in SIBO those numbers are accentuated to the point of causing symptoms. These bacteria interfere with normal digestion and absorption, inflame the immune system, and create large amounts of gas.
The most common symptoms of SIBO are:
gas and bloating
abdominal pain
constipation and/ or diarrhea
heartburn
nausea
headaches
joint pain
fatigue
food sensitivities
anemia or nutrient deficiencies
SIBO is best tested through the breath. In SIBO testing, the patient drinks a liquid solution containing ingredients that activate the bacteria. Over the course of a couple of hours, you will breathe into a bag to collect your sample. The types of gases present in the air you breathe out will define whether or not these gas-producing bacteria are present in your small intestine.
#4. Food sensitivities
Food sensitivity testing is a method of assessing whether your body has developed an immune system reaction to certain foods that you eat. Food sensitivities are different from allergies - allergies are mediated by the IgE branch of the immune system, which causes anaphylactic allergies. These reactions tend to be immediate and severe.
Food sensitivity testing looks at the IgG branch, or delayed-typed, immune system reaction to food. Immune cells of this type take up to 72 hours to develop, making it more challenging to assess which foods are problematic. Food sensitivity testing can also be useful in determining whether you have leaky gut or SIBO, as sensitivities tend to increase with both diagnoses.
At EmpowerMed, we use a simple finger prick test to determine up to 96 different food sensitivities.
Next Steps
If you think that gut health may be at the root cause of your health concerns, reach out to the EmpowerMed team of naturopathic doctors today. We take a collaborative approach to natural medicine, partnering with patients to help them achieve their unique health and wellness goals.
Contact us today at 760-456-7501 or use our booking link to schedule. We offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation for every new patient.
EmpowerMed Clinic is located just off the I-15 and Carroll Canyon within the Fitness Quest 10 Wellness Center of Scripps Ranch, San Diego County, CA. We serve the communities of North County San Diego, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Mira Mesa, Ramona, Scripps Ranch, Santee, and more.
Written by Dr. Carleigh Golightly