In a world where health and well-being are fundamental priorities, it is essential to pay attention to one of the key pillars of our body: the digestive system. Digestive health is not only about avoiding stomach discomfort but also has a significant impact on our overall well-being.

The digestive system is a complex network of organs, tissues and microorganisms that work together to break down the foods we consume, extract essential nutrients and remove the remains ⁽¹⁾. When our system is functioning properly, we feel energised, vital and in good spirits. It has been proven through various studies that a good digestive health is not only important for physical comfort, but also for emotional well-being, mental health and even the immune system ^(2–4).

In our current society, digestive problems are highly prevalent and include a wide variety of functional symptoms such as diarrhoea and/or constipation, gas, heavy digestion and bloating, among others ⁽⁵⁾. Over 332 million people are estimated to be living with a digestive disorder in the European region, according to a report from the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) ⁽⁶⁾. 
Undoubtedly, living with these symptoms can significantly affect the quality of life of people and interfere with daily activities, work, personal relationships and the emotional well-being of those affected ^(7,8).

In this context, the gut microbiota, which refers to the community of microorganisms that reside in the digestive tract ⁽⁹⁾, has gained significant attention in recent times. Understanding the relevance of the microbiota and its relationship to digestive health has evolved rapidly and has become an active and ever-expanding area of research.

The gut microbiota plays an essential role in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, in metabolism, with the production of vitamins and bioactive compounds, and in the regulation of the immune system with protection against pathogens ^(3,10). In addition, it interacts with the nervous system, through the gut-brain axis, influencing mood, behaviour and brain-cognitive function ⁽¹¹⁾.

A disturbance of the state in this microbial community residing in the digestive tract is known as dysbiosis. This imbalance can occur due to various factors such as diet, lifestyle, stress, medication use (such as antibiotics) and certain medical conditions. When dysbiosis occurs, there is a disruption in the normal composition of the intestinal microbiota, often leading to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria ^(12,13).

The consequences of dysbiosis have been associated with the development of digestive symptoms and disorders ⁽¹⁴⁾. Several research studies suggest that dysbiosis is associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), allergies, obesity, in addition to a wide range of non-digestive diseases such as metabolic disorders, inflammatory diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders and autoimmune disease ^(15–21).

The recognition of the relevance of the gut microbiota has generated a paradigm shift in the approach to digestive problems and has elucidated its potential as a reservoir of sensible biomarkers in case of any alteration.

In this sense, the gut microbiota serves as an analytical tool in digestive health and is envisioned as a key strategy to provide a complete view of everyone’s digestive health, allowing us to provide informed, personalised and effective decision making to improve intestinal health and, ultimately, overall well-being. Its composition and diversity can offer important clues about the state of our digestive system and our overall health. Technological advances have made it possible to further explore its composition and function, and increasingly recognise the fundamental role of the gut microbiota in digestive health and the importance of keeping this ecosystem in balance ^(22–24).

Therefore, addressing dysbiosis from the perspective of the gut microbiota is essential for restoring balance to the digestive system and promoting overall health. 

By identifying specific microbial signatures of different digestive diseases and through quantitative PCR methodology, GoodGut has developed three non-invasive faecal microbial tests*:

• For the prevention and improvement of intestinal health through the diagnosis of dysbiosis.
• For the positive diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• For the detection of Colorectal Cancer.

GoodGut aims to introduce the gut microbiota as a new clinical standard for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases, to improve the quality of life of patients who suffer from them and face current health challenges with innovative and high-impact solutions.

^{*These tests require prior medical prescription.}

References

^{1.    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. Your Digestive System & How it Works [Internet]. [cited 2024 May 24]. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works
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3.    Hou K, Wu ZX, Chen XY, Wang JQ, Zhang D, Xiao C, et al. Microbiota in health and diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2022 Apr 23;7(1):135. 
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