Testing for Dysbiosis
Simple to order. Take the test at home. Mail to the lab.
What is Dysbiosis?
The microecology of the human gastrointestinal tract is an incredibly complex ecosystem. There are at least 500 different species of microflora that are part of the "normal" intestinal flora. There are nine times as many bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract as there are cells in the human body. The type and number of gut bacteria play an important role in determining health and disease.
Dysbiosis is the state of altered microbial ecology that causes disease. In may exist in the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract or vaginal cavity. In dysbiosis, organisms of low intrinsic value, including bacteria, yeasts, and protozoa, induce disease by altering the nutrition or immune responses of the host.
Research has implicated intestinal dysbiosis as contributing to vitamin B12 deficiency, steatorrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune arthropathies, colon and breast cancer, psoriasis, eczema, cystic acne, and chronic fatigue.
A recent type of dysbiosis results from fermentation in the small intestine. In the large intestine, some fermentation is desirable because it produces butyrate and other short chain fatty acids that nourish the cells in the intestinal wall. In the small intestine, however, proliferation of yeast, fungi and /or fermentative bacteria can result in damage to muscosal epithelium, absorption of toxic by-products, and impaired absorption of nutrients.
The major causes of intestinal dysbiosis include:
- Dietary disturbances
- High protein
- High sugar
- High fat
- Low fiber
- Food allergies
- Simple carbohydrates
- Lack of digestive enzymes
- Poor nutritional status
- Stress
- Decreased gut motility
- Presence of xenobiotics
- Antibiotic/drug therapy
- Decreased immune function
- Malabsorption
- Intestinal infection
- Altered pH
Repeated assault on the body from toxic chemicals yields a range of effects. Dysbiosis can produce the obvious intestinal symptoms of
- diarrhea
- burning
- bloating
- cramps
- constipation
Equally important, however, are the effects on tissues far from the intestinal site, such as the brain, joints, and muscles. Effects can be as diverse as:
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Behavioral disorders
- Joint pain
- Learning disorders
- Immune dysfunction
- Chronic fatigue
- Nutritional deficiencies
The most common symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis are bloating, abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. Toxic neuromuscular and hormonal interference may be present and nutritional deficiencies are more likely when these markers are elevated. Lactose intolerance, increased gut permeability, food intolerances, fatigue, and immune suppression frequently accompany intestinal dysbiosis.
Yeast overgrowth causes multiple problems with the integrity of the intestinal mucosa. A variety of symptoms, including behavioral disorders and autism in children and mental and emotional disorders in adults, have been associated with overgrowth of these microbes.
Why test for Dysbiosis?
Dybiosis can be a significant factor in many health problems. The Dysbiosis Metabolic Marker Test, because it measures the by-products of microbial metabolism which are excreted in the urine, is particularly useful in detecting the presence of pathogenic microbial overgrowth and in guiding and monitoring therapy.
Treatments for dysbiosis may involve removal of the offending organisms
with anti-microbials. Dietary changes and food supplements are used for
replacement of beneficial bacteria, restoration of digestive function,
and mucosal repair.
A repeat test should show improvement within 90 days.
Urine vs. Stool
When pathogens are distributed throughout the small and large intestines due to chronic infestation, their identification in stool is possible. Stool testing does not reveal the situation in the small intestine, however, and there is increasing evidence that the fecal microbiota does not mirror the colonic situation. Consequently, the major limitations of stool testing are its high degree of false negatives and the greater potential of missing a significant dysbiotic clinical situation. A client with negative stool specimen can have dysbiosis markers in urine, revealing metabolic by-products of pathogenic microbiota growing in the small intestine.
Dysbiosis Metabolic Markers
The Dysbiosis Metabolic Marker Test
measures the following:
- Creatinine
- Bacterial/Protozoal
- Benzoate
- Hippurate
- Phenylpropionate
- p-Cresol
- p-Hydroxyphenylacetate
- Tricarballylate
- Clostridial
- Dihydroxyphenylpropionate
- Yeast/Fungal
- Tartarate
- Citramalate
- B-Ketoglutarate
All of the above compounds reported are produced by bacteria, yeast, fungi and protozoa that may colonize or grow in the small intestines. Dysbiosis involves overgrowth of one or more species leading to increased production of these compounds that are absorbed and excreted in the urine.
How to Get the Test
Your functional test is ordered through me in my capacity as a Certified Nutritionist.
Use our secure online shopping cart.
The test kit with full instructions will be sent to you within a few days. A small shipping and handling fee applies.
Collect the specimens at your convenience and send directly to the independent laboratory.
The test results are sent to me and I will forward a copy to you.
We then schedule a time to discuss the interpretations and implications of the results and possible nutritional and lifestyle treatment programs appropriate for you based on your test results.
You'll have the option of working with me further to treat your results and resolve the problems revealed in your testing.
For questions and tests not available for order online, email maryann@evenstaronline.com
The main value of these tests is to enable us to more accurately and precisely implement preventive and wellness measures to increase your health and well-being and reduce your future risks of illness and degenerative conditions.
To Your Health,
The fee for the
Dysbiosis Metabolic Marker Test
functional test is
$340
