Do you need a $599 gut test? What your poop can tell you about your health
It’s a gut-wrenching problem.
Research indicates that around two-thirds of US adults struggle with persistent tummy troubles like gas, bloating and abdominal pain — and few seek medical help.
Some take matters into their own hands by keeping a food diary to identify potential triggers, eating certain foods to track the appearance and frequency of bowel movements or taking an at-home microbiome assessment.
GutID is a new testing option that officially launched earlier this year. The stool sample exam is designed to comprehensively explore the delicate community of bacteria, viruses and fungi living in our gut and highlight ways to improve it.
Diet, especially fiber intake, medications like antibiotics, age and lifestyle choices influence the composition and diversity of gut bacteria.
Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is crucial — imbalances have been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Type 2 diabetes, obesity, dementia and even certain cancers. GutID comes amid a concerning rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses in people under 50.
“Everything the microbiome does is very explainable — it all makes sense and it all works as it should,” Paul Denslow, CEO and co-founder of Intus Bio, told The Post.
“We just haven’t had the technology to see it in the detail or with the completeness or with the accuracy required to be actionable,” he added. “And GutID is really the first test to do that.”
Intus Bio sells two GutID tests — Core Gut Insights ($399) focuses on gut function issues, while the Complete Microbiome Assessment ($599) takes a broader look by delving into the gut-brain axis, which plays a significant role in the development and progression of various diseases.
But while DIY microbiome tests have become more popular, some researchers have cast doubts about their value. A gastroenterologist last year compared them to “snake oil” and complained that they “usually lead to more questions than answers.”
Denslow said GutID’s science-backed method produces accurate and consistent results when repeated with the same sample.
He credits GutID’s bacterial DNA sequencing technology, from the life science tech company PacBio, for providing detailed visualization of the gut’s bacterial population down to the strain level.
At last month’s Biohackers World conference, Denslow spotlighted the case of a person with severe gut function issues scrambling to find answers.
“They had taken other tests,” Denslow told the audience. “The tests weren’t showing anything in particular, but with the resolution that we have, with the complete results that we provide, yet again, the answer became apparent.”
Denslow said GutID can identify conditions often missed by other tests, like mycoplasma bacterial infections.
It can be purchased online or taken in a doctor’s office, with results arriving in three to four weeks.
The report suggests foods, supplements, prebiotics and probiotics that could enhance the microbiome. Intus Bio doesn’t sell these products because there’s no one-size-fits-all approach — and “the power of the test speaks for itself,” Denslow said. “We’re selling data.”
Denslow recommends testing once a year to establish a baseline and retesting more often if issues are flagged.
Michael Gaumond, 73, heard about GutID from his neighbor. He wanted to learn more about his “delicate stomach,” especially after having colon surgery last year.
The Californian’s report recommended axing processed foods, beef and pork products, commercial salad dressings and carb-laden fare like potatoes, bread, crackers and chips.
He said he added salads with apple cider vinegar and extra virgin olive oil to his daily routine, as well as morning smoothies and regular servings of fish and chicken breast. He also stopped snacking — especially before bed — and saw his digestion issues subside.
“I committed myself to diligently following the diet recommendations, and within a couple of weeks, I began to feel a positive difference,” Gaumond told The Post. “Over the next three to four months, I lost almost 40 pounds of weight. I’m 6-foot-5 and weighed 285 pounds.”
Fara Erspamer, 60, got introduced to the test through her son, who works for Intus Bio. She had long suffered from digestive issues.
GutID found fusobacteria and other concerning bacteria in her sample. That was a surprise since Erspamer had received an all-clear on her colonoscopy 18 months prior.
The Floridian brought the report to her gastroenterologist, who ordered a colonoscopy. A polyp was found and removed — the good news is it wasn’t cancerous.
“I guess I might be a little biased since my son does work for the company,” Erspamer told The Post, “but I will say my story could have had a different ending had I not done the test and waited another eight years for another colonoscopy.”
Certain strains of fusobacteria have been strongly associated with colorectal cancer. The bacterium is primarily found in the mouth and can cause problems if it spreads to other tissues.
Denslow said some “very, very encouraging preliminary data” indicates that GutID technology can be used to diagnose diseases such as colorectal and pancreatic cancers.
“We hope to have a test launched in the next 12 to 18 months on the back of that work,” Denslow added.
“It really just speaks to the fact that the microbiome is this very, very powerful information space for healthcare and health outcomes, and we have this unique ability to actually look in that space and extract this information.”
