Is Microbiome Testing Really Worth The Investment?

Microbiome testing has become popular, as interest in the connection between gut health and overall wellbeing has grown. These tests are often marketed as a solution to better digestion, immunity and more. However, before you spend a significant amount of your hard-earned money, it's important to consider whether a microbiome test really is necessary to help you improve your health.

Microbiome testing typically requires collecting a stool sample, that is then sent to a laboratory for DNA sequencing. This process identifies the species of microbes present in your sample, and their abundance. Microbiome tests have been used in research for some time, and now similar commercial tests are accessible to the public.

Should I consider a microbiome test?

Even though the technology used for these tests has improved, and the rapid progress in research has given us more insight into gut-health relationships, there's limited evidence supporting the usefulness of these tests for healthy individuals.

We don't have a universal blueprint for an "optimal" microbiome, which makes it challenging to provide meaningful advice based on the results of a one-off microbiome test. Your microbiome is unique to you, much like a fingerprint - meaning that what constitutes an optimal gut microbiome for you will be different to what is optimal for someone else.

Testing might be beneficial in certain situations

One-off tests are less useful on their own, but can provide a baseline status which can be compared with subsequent tests to monitor changes in the microbiome over time. This approach might be valuable if you’re interested in observing how your microbiome evolves after making changes to your diet, or following illness or antibiotic use. However, due to the potentially high cost, microbiome tests are primarily used in research or specialist clinical settings.

We already know what works

Research consistently shows that specific bacteria are linked to health outcomes. Beneficial bacteria thrive on plant foods, especially those rich in prebiotic fibre. There is also a connection between ultra-processed foods and reduced microbial diversity, which leads to fewer beneficial bacteria and more pro-inflammatory types. You don't need an expensive test though, to follow these evidence-based recommendations.

Try to:

• eat a variety of plant foods, particularly those rich in prebiotic fibre

• add some fermented foods to your diet

• reduce your consumption of ultra-processed foods

While microbiome testing is an promising and exciting field, it will probably become more useful in the future once have more evidence to inform how we use the results.

For now though, the best way you can support your gut and overall health is by investing in nourishing, everyday foods rather than an expensive test.

You can learn more about how to maintain your gut health in our free gut health guide.