Should You Really Get an At-Home Gut Microbiome Test? What Doctors Say

At-home gut microbiome testing has exploded—pitched as the next frontier of personalized wellness, optimization, and even longevity. You mail a stool sample and get a breakdown of the bacteria living in your intestines—then the company tells you whether your “balance” is good or bad. But as gastroenterologists told The Associated Press, the microbiome science still isn’t strong enough to draw clear, actionable medical conclusions.

Inside your gut is an entire ecosystem of bacteria involved in digestion, vitamin absorption, inflammation control, and possibly metabolic disease risk. Research continues to link microbiome patterns to liver disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental health. But our understanding is in its infancy, said Dr. Mark Benson, a gastroenterologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, in an interview with the AP.

What Doctors Say About Accuracy and Clinical Value

AP reporting found these kits can cost $100 to $500 or more, but they aren’t FDA-regulated, and companies can use different methods and benchmarks. That makes reliability hard to measure—and interpretation even tougher.

Physicians sometimes do use clinical stool testing, but typically for targeted reasons—like infections, antibiotic complications, or cancer screening. When patients bring in consumer microbiome reports, doctors say there’s often nothing clinically actionable they can do with them.

“The technology is jumping ahead of the clinical application,” said Dr. Eamonn Quigley of Houston Methodist Hospital, via AP.

What Actually Improves Gut Health Without a Test

Doctors told the AP you don’t need a mail-in microbiome test to build a healthier gut. Start here:

• Eat more plant-based fiber and high-quality protein
• Choose minimally processed, regenerative sources of meat. Brands like Force of Nature prioritize nutrient density and ethical sourcing
• Move your body every day
• Prioritize sleep
• See a doctor if you have alarming symptoms like blood in stool, persistent abdominal pain, diarrhea, or chronic constipation

Dr. Sean Spencer of Stanford University told the AP he looks forward to the day physicians personalize gut therapies based on validated biomarkers. But until that evidence exists: keep your money in your wallet—and focus on habits that are already proven.