Gut tests for home use: Top or Flop?
Especially on the Internet is often promoted for bowel tests for the home to offer the opportunity to explore the personal intestinal health, without having a doctor’s appointment to wait. These Tests, which are also available in pharmacies, are often very cost-intensive. Are they really useful?
Whether in the case of abdominal pain, Obesity, or persistent fatigue for some time, various intestinal tests for home promise, available in pharmacies or on the Internet, assist in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments. However, how useful these Tests are?
Impact on the overall health
Scientific studies have shown that a healthy and diverse gut flora has a significant influence on our overall health. If the casing device in the wrong location, often symptoms such as persistent fatigue, abdominal pain, or bloating.
Bowel tests from pharmacies or the Internet to help in the diagnosis and treatment of such complaints. And all from the comfort of your home.
As the consumer service Bavaria, writes in a recent communication, the result of a personalized diet recommendation, which strengthens the health-promoting intestinal bacteria, and thus protection against diseases, or existing complaints are alleviated. The experts explain whether these Tests are useful.
The composition of the intestinal flora
Microbiota (intestinal flora) refers to the totality of the intestinal germs. These are about 100 trillion bacteria, which weigh about one to two kilograms.
Scientists are researching for some time on the composition of the Microbiota and try to analyze the correlations with disease.
Currently, there are already indications that a variety of diseases associated with a change in the seed composition, however, the experts are still in disagreement as to how an optimal Microbiota looks like.
Species diversity of the Gut bacteria changed
“Through studies, it is now known that various diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or obesity, the biodiversity of our Gut bacteria, known as Microbiota, is changed,” explains Gisela Horlemann, Nutritionist at the consumer service Bavaria in the KDFB e. V. (VSB) in a message.
“In the case of excess weight is often postponed, the ratio of Firmicutes to bacteroidetes fractions increased, so that more of the ‘bad’ Firmicutes bacteria are present, which split off more calories from food”, says the expert.
The experts suggest that can increase as a result, the energy consumption of the same diet up to 150 calories per day.
Costs are not covered by health insurance
Many manufacturers advertise, regardless of a doctor to find out visit, such as the composition of the own Microbiota looks like, and how it goes the intestine. Be offered different Tests examine either the composition of the Microbiota, fungi, or special markers.
Among the latter service of the messenger substance Zonulin, which is used to detect a Leaky-gut-syndrome (permeability of the intestinal mucosa), according to the consumer.
The information suggests that the microbiome analysis presents the most elaborate and expensive investigation. As the experts explain, is determined by using the molecular genetics of the bacteria-DNA, so that both the number and the types of bacteria in the stool are to be determined in the sample accurately.
The cost for the intestinal test, which amount to up to several hundred euros, are not covered by health insurance.
The companies indicate that the self-tests do not replace a medical diagnosis and the Practitioner to seek medical advice if the result is negative in every case, a Doctor or a physician.
Diversity of intestinal bacteria determine
How the consumer service is explained further by the analysis of the diversity of intestinal bacteria determine. In the case of low species diversity, a ballast material may be more food selection.
The research results are not sufficient, however, to provide personalized nutrition recommendations, since the optimum composition of the Microbiota is not yet sufficiently known.
The problem with self-tests, the limited shelf life of the sample is also. To pay attention to the Delivery time to the laboratory, because the sample material must not be too long on the road.
In addition to the result of the test companies apply often also a suitable dietary Supplement or strains of bacteria and provide nutrition plans.
Meaningful Research Opportunities
Some of the study possibilities turn out to be quite useful, but you should carry out a Physician or a doctor. The insurance company then takes over partially or fully the cost.
Include meaningful investigations, among other things, the pH, the diagnosis of inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, such as chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).
And in the context of the colorectal cancer screening Test for occult, not visible blood is carried out in the chair. In the case of suspected parasites or gastro-intestinal infections, it is also appropriate stool tests.
Society discourages the Tests
“According to current knowledge, a microbiome analysis is not currently necessary to diagnose and treat disease”, so the conclusion of Horlemann.
For the diagnosis and Recommend a individual’s diet in diseases, in addition to a microbiome analysis, other laboratory values such as cholesterol or blood sugar values is necessary.
Also the German society for gastroenterology, digestive and metabolic diseases (DGVS) advises against the use of microbiome analyses.
These Tests, the scientific basis, the professionals are lacked currently. (ad)
Authors and source of information
This Text meets the requirements of the medical literature, medical guidelines, as well as current studies and was examined by doctors and Medical scientists.