The intestine contains bacteria that together weigh approximately one and a half kilograms. Eighty percent of the gut flora is made up of three phyla: Firmicutes (55%), which include Faecalibacterium and Ruminococcus species. Bacteroidetes (28%) includes Bacteroides and Prevotella species. Verrucomicrobia includes Akkermansia.

Lactobacillus spp
Lactobacillus forms a beneficial group of bacteria consisting of many species. Lactobacilli belong to the phylum Firmicutes and the class Bacilli. They are lactic-acid bacteria. Lactobacillus is a well-known bacterium found in humans and animals. They occur throughout our body. There are no harmful species; they do not cause disease. Although they play a protective role, they are not present in high numbers in the intestine. Normal numbers of Lactobacillus spp. are 1.0∙10 6 million bacteria per gram of stool.

Enterococcus
Enterococcus is a genus of gram-positive lactic-acid bacteria that normally occur in the human intestine: Enterococcus faecalis (90-95%) and Enterococcus faecium (5-10%). Enterococcus faecalis also includes harmful species that can cause complaints particularly in the urethra and mouth. Normal numbers are 1.0∙10 6 million bacteria per gram of stool

Escherichia coli
This is a bacterium that belongs in the intestine. It helps digest food and produces vitamin K. Normal numbers are around 1.0∙10 6 million bacteria per gram of stool. E.coli belongs to the class Enterobacteriaceae, which also includes harmful species.

Bifidobacterium species
Bifidobacterium species belong to the beneficial gut bacteria. On average, their numbers are around one billion (1.0·10 9) per gram of stool. Stool therefore contains, on average, one thousand times as many Bifidobacterium spp. as Lactobacillus spp. or E.coli. The numbers of Bifidobacterium spp. vary between individuals. High values are often seen after the use of probiotics or yoghurt to which these bacteria have been added. High values have no adverse consequences and will not cause symptoms. When the numbers of Bifidobacterium spp. are low, people generally experience few problems from this.

Akkermansia and Faecalibacterium
Akkermansia (3-5% of the gut flora) and Faecalibacterium (10% of the gut flora) play a key role in maintaining a healthy mucus layer and protecting the intestinal wall. Both bacteria convert plant fibres into food for gut bacteria and in this way contribute to the formation of a healthy mucus layer.

a. Akkermansia. Both a decrease and an increase in the numbers of Akkermansia muciniphila are associated with a poorly developed mucus layer.

b. Faecalibacterium is a bacterial species that maintains a good balance between other bacterial species. Low numbers of Faecalibacteriumprausnitzii occur more often in inflammatory diseases. In food allergies, low values of both bacteria are often seen. Eating vegetables helps maintain good numbers of Akkermansia and Faecalibacterium.

Candida species
The stool of a healthy intestine contains no more than 1000 cells per gram of stool. An increase is defined as more than 3000 cells per gram. A strong increase in Candida albicans is often accompanied by a decrease in healthy gut flora.

Digestion
Markers of food digestion play an important role in diagnostics.
a. Acidity. A pH that is too high or too low indicates a disturbed environment.
b. Undigested food residues enter the stool when food is not chewed properly.
c. A diet rich in starch can result in a high starch content in the stool. This has an unfavourable effect on the gut flora and stimulates the growth of yeasts.
d. A high fat content indicates a disorder of the bile ducts or pancreas, a gluten allergy or damage to the small intestine.

Contents

The GUT FLORA package consists of the analyses:

• Digestion module
  • pH (acidity)
  • Fat
  • Starch
  • Plant fibres
  • Colour
  • Consistency
• Gut flora panel 1 module
  • Enterobacteriaceae/E.coli
  • Enterococcus spp.
  • Lactobacillus spp.
  • Bifidobacterium spp.
• Gut flora panel 2 module
  • Akkermansia muciniphila
  • Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
• Candida module
  • Yeasts – including Candida albicans
  • Fungi