Alterations in the bowel flora are now believed to be contributing factors to many chronic diseases such as allergies, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, or degenerative diseases.
A number of factors such as antibiotic use, stress, certain dietary components, can have a detrimental impact on the gut microflora. Overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria results in the production of toxic bacterial compounds (such as endotoxins) which are absorbed into the bloodstream and cause abnormal immune activation. Gut inflammation, that may result from food intolerances or allergies, leads to an increased permeability of the intestinal wall (“leaky gut”), facilitating the passage of bacterial compounds to the blood.
Intestinal dysbiosis is very often found in CFS patients, and may significantly contribute to the development of the disease.
In collaboration with scientists from the University of Melbourne, we have implemented a stool analysis technique to look for intestinal dysbiosis. Our procedure can investigate both aerobe and anaerobe organisms.
We also use the following assays to investigate intestinal dysfunction:
- Stool analysis, digestive function
- IgA/IgM against intestinal bacteria
- Lactase deficiency assay
FAECAL MICROBIAL ANALYSIS
The intestinal microflora can be considered as a postnatally acquired organ, composed of a large diversity of bacterial cells, that performs different functions for the host. The microflora plays a significant role in gut maturation, gut integrity, prevention of pathogenic and opportunistic bacterial colonization and modulates the immune system. It is also involved in vitamin synthesis, production of short chain fatty acids, metabolism of carcinogenic substances.
Although the intestinal flora is quite stable over time, a number of factors can disturb the normal balance leading to intestinal dysbiosis. The GI microflora can be altered by immune mechanisms of the host, redox state, adrenal function, intestinal PH, peristalsis, diet, aging, drugs, exogenous organisms, climate and emotional stress. Intestinal dybiosis is seen in a number of chronic diseases such as Crohn's disease, IBS, CFS and may be associated with atopy and developmental disorders such as autism and ADHD.
The FMA is an extended investigation of the microscopic gut flora of the lower intestinal tract. Microbes from a faecal sample are cultured and various species of faecal bacteria, both aerobes and anaerobes, as well as yeasts, are quantified. If these microbes are significantly outside normal reference ranges an imbalance of the intestinal ecosystem can be identified. FMA1 looks at aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as yeast and fungi; FMA2 is a follow up test, it only looks at aerobic bacteria.
This procedure is performed from a stool sample. The sample must be sent in our test kit. Contact us for further details and to order a test kit. Ship within 48 hours at 4°C.
Please download our FMA booklet for more information:
- FMA booklet Nederlandse versie
- FMA booklet version française
STOOL ANALYSIS, DIGESTIVE FUNCTION
DIGS assay is a microscopic examination that will look for the presence of undigested muscle fibers, starch and fats in faecal samples, as an indicator of digestive process efficiency.
BACTERIAL IMMUNOBILAN
The Immunobilan test is an antibody screening assay for antibodies (IgA and IgM) directed against antigens from intestinal pathogens. IgA are secreted from intestinal cells, IgM are produced by immune cells in the blood. In healthy individuals pathogenic bacteria are only found in low quantities in the gut, and antibody titers in the blood are very low. In case of bacterial overgrowth however, large quantities of IgA are produced and some IgA will be found in the bloodstream. In case of leaky gut, bacterial proteins may make their way to the bloodstream, and specific IgM will be produced. Therefore, high titers of IgM for intestinal bacteria is an indicator of increased intestinal permeability. All Immunobilan bacteria are strictly associated with the gut, with the exception of Klebsiella, which is also associated with respiratory and urinary tract infections.
LACTASE DEFICIENCY ASSAY
Intolerance to lactose (dairy products) can lead to strong intestinal dysfunction. This relatively common condition (10-20% of the population in Northern Europe) has a genetic origin: a polymorphism in the gene coding for lactase, an enzyme responsible for the digestion of lactose (C/T-13910 polymorphism). In affected people, production of the enzyme declines during or shortly after childhood, resulting in lactose malabsorption. Undigested lactose sugars affect the development of gut microflora, leading to dysbiosis.
Two copies (alleles) of the lactase gene are present in the genome. Each allele can be either T-type (normal, production of lactase), or C-type (abnormal, lactase deficiency). A patient can have three possible genotypes:
- T/T: normal expression of the enzyme, patients are lactose tolerant.
- C/T: only one functional copy, however this is sufficient for lactose metabolism, therefore these patients can be considered lactose tolerant.
- C/C: these patients are lactase deficient, their tolerance to lactose is limited.