Do you have a friendly or hostile gut microbiome?

This is a question that many people have rarely thought about. A recent study showed that about half of people have a friendly (permissive) gut microbiome, and about half of people have a hostile (resistant) microbiome [1]. But what exactly does this mean and why is this important?

A friendly (permissive) microbiome is very accepting to probiotics and allows them to colonize, this bodes well for probiotic supplementation having favorable effects on gut health.  Whereas people with the unfriendly (resistant) gut microbiome do not allow probiotic supplements to colonize. They essentially pass straight through the gut without having any beneficial effects and then get eliminated in the stool. This can either be due to the types of bacteria that are already present, an overabundance of “resistant” bacteria, competition for nutrients that are being produced by other bacteria, and the types of foods a person eats.  Remember the old saying “you are what you eat”? Well, this holds true for our gut microbiome too. Our gut bacteria composition is in part determined by what we eat.

This study also showed that the individuals with the friendlier gut microbiome had more improvement in their digestive symptoms after taking probiotics. Whereas the individuals with the unfriendly microbiome tended to not show any substantial changes or improvements in their digestive symptoms.

An interesting fact about this was that after study participants were administered antibiotics to clear out and reset their gut microbiome, their digestive tracts were much more likely to be colonized by the probiotic bacteria. However, clearing out the microbiome completely can lead to other issues because the limited types of bacteria found in probiotics can over-proliferate in the gut, leading to less overall diversity in the gut microbiome. Diversity is very important in the world of the gut microbiome and is a hallmark of a more robust, healthier digestive tract. In this situation, the probiotic bacteria can actually prevent the normal gut bacteria from rebounding from the antibiotics appropriately.

So should everyone be taking a probiotic to support their gut health?

Research like this confirms that precision is important when taking probiotics. Just like supplementation with anything, there is no one-size fits all solution. This is where functional stool testing can bridge the gap.  This type of testing looks at the entirety of the gut microbiome and gives us an idea of how many “friendly” versus “unfriendly” bacteria there are. Furthermore, this is also good reason to use supplements like herbal antimicrobials, which do not completely wipe out the gut microbiome like some antibiotics do and can be much more targeted with removal of only unfriendly bacteria. Using herbal antimicrobial supplements to get rid of overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria provides more space for friendly inhabitants, as well as increases the likelihood of probiotics having beneficial effects.

Our gut bacteria are what we eat.

Something that I always pay attention to, and lines up nicely with the study, is that our diet plays a tremendous role in terms of the composition of our gut microbiome. Certain bacteria have preferences for different foods in our diets as well as byproducts being produced by other bacteria. For example, lactobacillus thrives in individuals who eat more almonds, but its growth is inhibited by things like stevia and Splenda.

It’s important to pay attention to not only the types of probiotics that are being given, but also what foods are being recommended alongside to help those probiotics grow instead of just passing straight through the gut. Then we are much more likely to see that those probiotics are colonizing the gut and doing the job that they want we want them to do.

Where do we go from here?

Functional gut microbiome testing is the first step in understanding the overall state of your gut microbiome and if it is potentially contributing to any digestive issues or overall health issues. Beyond digestive issues, the balance of your gut bacteria can be associated with obesity, inflammation, and even autoimmune diseases. Once we have this information, we can begin the process of using precision supplements, probiotics, and food/lifestyle recommendations that will promote positive changes in your gut microbiome and overall health.

The best way to get started is to book a free 15-minute phone consult with me to discuss your health concerns, my approach to addressing the root cause. Click here to book your consult and get started.

Zmora N, Zilberman-Schapira G, Suez J, et al. Personalized Gut Mucosal Colonization Resistance to Empiric Probiotics Is Associated with Unique Host and Microbiome Features. Cell. 2018;174(6):1388-1405.e21. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2018.08.041