Method: Shotgun metagenomic sequencing (CLIA 21D2062464); not cleared or approved by the FDA. Results reflect relative microbial abundance for wellness education purposes. Not intended to diagnose or treat disease and not a substitute for clinical consultation. Microbial associations are based on emerging scientific research and may change over time. Derived from laboratory results. This score or index is not an FDA-cleared test. It aids clinician-directed assessment and is not a stand-alone diagnosis.
A derived biomarker is a value that is calculated from other directly measured biomarkers rather than being measured directly in the lab.
Key benefits of Protein breakdown testing
- Gut proteolytic capacity tracking
- protein fermentation balance and metabolite production assessment
What is Protein breakdown?
This metric estimates your gut microbiome's overall proteolytic (protein-breaking) capacity - the ability to ferment and break down dietary proteins in the colon. Derived from the abundance of protease-encoding genes detected by shotgun metagenomic sequencing.
Why is Protein breakdown important?
While dietary protein is primarily digested in the small intestine, undigested protein that reaches the colon is fermented by gut bacteria. Excessive colonic protein fermentation may produce potentially harmful metabolites including ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and branched-chain fatty acids. This metric provides an overall view of your gut's protein fermentation potential.
What insights will I get?
Your protein breakdown capacity may indicate the balance between carbohydrate fermentation (beneficial, SCFA-producing) and protein fermentation (which can produce less favorable metabolites at high levels). Elevated protein breakdown capacity alongside low fiber fermentation capacity may suggest a microbiome imbalanced toward protein over carbohydrate fermentation.
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