At Ageless Beauty Rx we offer a variety of specialty lab tests. The goal of this blog post is to introduce the GI MAP, which is a functional stool test from Diagnostic Solutions. We recommend reading our blog post on gut health for more background on how important optimal gut health is. This post provides an excellent background for much of what will be discussed here around the GI MAP.
Page 1 of the GI MAP includes testing of frank pathogens. These are bacteria, parasites or viruses that should not be in the gastrointestinal system. Many of these are picked up through contaminated food, water, or exotic travel. Some are highly antibiotic resistant “super-bugs” such as Clostridium Difficile. The best way to classify the organisms on Page 1 are infectious organisms. These are different from expected organisms that normally reside in the gut and make up the microbiome.
Page 2 of the GI MAP are the expected residents of the gastrointestinal tract. H. Pylori is included on the first page, which is a spiral shaped bacteria that lives in the gut. Certain strains of H. Pylori can cause ulcers and even stomach cancer and the GI MAP tests for these. Being treated for H. Pylori depends on the amount presence, the strains that test positive, and the symptoms the patient is experiencing.
Page 3 of the GI MAP examines opportunistic bacteria and yeast. These are expected residents of the gut; however, they are normally kept in low populations by being crowded out by the bacteria on Page 2. These bacteria are not frank pathogens per se but can misbehave when given the right environment and the chance to establish a foothold. The presence of these bacteria in high levels means there is an imbalance in the microbiome. An imbalance in the microbiome leads to inflammation in the gut, leaky gut, food sensitivities, and bowel movement abnormalities.
Page 4 of the GI MAP includes more parasitic organisms and worms. Unfortunately, parasites and worms are often one of the last causes of GI distress that doctors will consider. These infections have to be identified if the patient is to get better- they often will not respond to the average recommendations. It is a misconception that the United States has evolved beyond American citizens having to deal with these infections and that those issues are reserved for less developed countries.
Page 5 of the GI MAP covers intestinal health markers. These markers help quantify how much inflammation is in the gastrointestinal tract, if there is an issue with digestive enzyme secretions, and other important markers to help create more context for the possible dysbiosis or infections we see in the previous four pages.
Functional stool testing with the GI MAP is an extremely valuable tool for finally getting answers on what is going on with your gut! Functional stool testing helps save valuable time and bypasses the potential disappointments that come with trial-and-erroring your gut health. Each patient is an individual with a unique microbiome and the GI MAP assists in finding your personalized plan for better gut health!