ProHealthy Gut: A Test to Describe Your Intestinal Health Condition

There are more than 100 trillion (1x1014) microbes live within your gastrointestinal tract. This number includes bacteria, fungi, and virus which are usually called as gut microbiota. The interaction between the microbiota and the host may affect your health condition, particularly your immune homeostatis. A change within the interaction may cause inflammatory diseases. These microbiotas generate various metabolites, including short chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

SCFAs are produced through a fermentation process within the gut. They are volatile in nature and consist of several substances such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate. Among all others, butyrate is particularly important for the human gastrointestinal tract health. SCFAs are mainly produced by Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria. Both are considered as friendly bacteria helpful to reduce the gastric pH, hindering the growth of bad bacteria or fungi (pathogen). The name ProHealthy Gut for SCFA test is inspired by the role of SCFAs in realizing a healthy digestive system.

SCFA concentration in feces may describe the fiber intake and is deemed to be a beneficial biomarker for the microbiota activities and your health condition. Various researches indicate that SCFAs are important for the physiology of gastrointestinal tract. They lower inflammation, increase the recovery of broken tissue, and are responsible for metabolism and normal cells differentiation. SCFAs signaling the health of your brain called as Gut-Brain Axis. By knowing the SCFA percentage, we may assess the balance of gut microbiota which may lead us to figure out the risk of various diseases (colorectal cancer, obesity, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, allergies, etc.).

ProHealthy Gut Test is best taken as an adjuvant test to complete the diagnostic test when there is a complaint prior to and after taking probiotics or supplements therapy. The test is beneficial to figure out the risk of dysbiosis (lack of good microbiota in the body), inadequate fiber intake, or to assess the balance of gut microbiota. The test is important since SCFAs reflect the condition of gut microbiota, which may help reveal the risk of diseases.

Currently, Prodia is the only clinical laboratory in Indonesia that is capable of conducting ProHealthy Gut Test. As a laboratory with the vision to provide the next generation health care, Prodia continues to improve its services by providing the latest and most advanced tests to support the new generation treatment. This improvement will also help supporting the development of medical science in Indonesia. ProHealthy Gut Test will provide the description of the often overlooked intestinal health condition.