In recent years, the gut microbiome has emerged as a pivotal player in human health, with profound implications for various chronic illnesses within and outside of the gut.¹

Alongside the rapid surge in academic literature shedding light on the intricate relationship between the changing microbiome and the underlying immune system, there is an even greater volume of commentary, theories and recommendations infiltrating a patient’s world through various sources including social media.

It is therefore important to have an approach to decipher the hype from the facts and provide practical, sustainable and achievable recommendation to patients as part of your routine clinical practice. 

The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem comprised of trillions of micro-organisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea, all of which play a fundamental role in maintaining gut homeostasis and influencing the systemic immune system. It is the body’s window to the outside world and is heavily influenced by everything around us including diet, genetics, age, environment and medication use.