Approach commercial microbiome tests with skepticism

What to Do

If you're considering tests like Viome, Zoe, or similar commercial gut microbiome kits, understand their limitations before purchasing. These tests sequence your stool bacteria but provide recommendations that lack clinical validation.

Why It Works

Current science cannot reliably translate a snapshot of your microbiome composition into personalized dietary advice. Key issues: results vary significantly between samples taken days apart, there is no consensus on what a "healthy" microbiome looks like, and the personalized food recommendations have not been validated in clinical trials.

Tips

• Interesting for curiosity but not actionable for most people
• No commercial test can diagnose a disease or replace medical evaluation
• The science may catch up in 5-10 years — save your money until then
• If you do test, don't make major dietary changes based solely on results