GI Effects is an innovative stool test measuring premier biomarkers of gastrointestinal function, providing valuable clinical insight into digestive performance, gut inflammation, and the gut microbiome — areas affecting not only GI health, but overall health as well.

Functional testing can help uncover the root cause of many chronic conditions that often frustrate both physician and patient. The scope of the biomarkers on the GI Effects Stool Profile provides comprehensive information to the clinician for the development of strategic interventions. As identified functional imbalances and inadequacies become more normalized through targeted dietary, lifestyle, and supplementation therapeutics, intractable symptoms often improve for many patients.

Features include:

• Quick overview and synthesis of results reflecting the status of the 3 key functions of gut health arranged in the “DIG” format: digestion, inflammation, and the gut microbiome

• Functional imbalance scores that incorporate biomarkers belonging 5 functional categories: maldigestion, inflammation, dysbiosis, metabolic imbalance & infection

• Therapeutic support options to serve as potential treatment ideas

• A Commensal Balance Infographic, total & relative – Designed to provide a more precise view of an individual patient's commensal bacteria (PCR) results relative to a spectrum of healthy and unhealthy commensal patterns.

- including Inflammation-Associated Dysbiosis score & Methane Dysbiosis Score (Immune Suppression) to help guide therapy

• Clinical Association Charts – See how patient results compare to commensal bacteria (PCR) and biomarker patterns seen in patients with specific clinical conditions, such as IBS, IBD, Metabolic Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue, Autoimmune dysfunction, Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Mood Disorders.

Correlations are now evident between many disease processes and patterns of microbiome dysbiosis in both gut dysfunction and extra-intestinal disorders.

Indications

• Autism

• Autoimmune

• Cardiovascular Disease

• Celiac and Other Malabsorption Disorders

• Diabetes

• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• Mood Disorders

• Obesity

Overview

What does the GIFX cover?

FUNCTIONAL IMBALANCE SCORES

• Maldigestion
• Inflammation
• Dysbiosis
• Metabolic imbalance
• Infection

COMMENSAL BACTERIA (PCR) WITH COMMENSAL BALANCE & TOTAL & RELATIVE ABUNDANCE

• Bacteroidetes Phylum
• Firmicutes Phylum
• Actinobacteria Phylum
• Proteobacteria Phylum
• Euryarchaeota Phylum
• Fusobacteria Phylum
• Verrucomicrobia Phylum
• Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio

BACTERIOLOGY (Culture)

MYCOLOGY(Yeast/Fungi)

PARASITOLOGY (Microscopic O&P capable of detecting all described gastrointestinal parasites + PCR):

• Protozoa
• Cestodes - Tapeworms
• Trematodes - Flukes
• Dematodes - Round Worms

NATURAL & PRESCRIPTIVE AGENT SENSITIVITIES

THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT OPTIONS

DIGESTION & ABSORPTION

• Pancreatic Elastase 1
• Products of Protein Breakdown
• Fecal Fat

INFLAMMATION & IMMUNOLOGY

• Calprotectin
• Eosinophil Protein X
• Fecal secretory IgA

OTHER MARKERS

• White blood cells
• Charcot-Leyden Crystals
• Fecal Occult Blood
• Color & consistency

GUT MICROBE METABOLITES

• Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)
• Butyrate Concentration
• Beta-glucuronidase

CLINICAL ASSOCIATION CHARTS

AVAILABLE ADD-ONS

• Zonulin
• H. pylori
• Campylobacter spp.
• Clostridium difficile
• Shiga toxin E. coli
• Fecal Lactoferrin

Practical

Practical (add-ons available)

Specimen requirements:

Stool, 1 day collection

Also available as a 3 day collection

Taking enzymes will affect the results. We recommend to stop taking digestive enzymes 2 days before starting the test and during the test.

We do allow for patients to take magnesium citrate, Psyllium grain, or prune juice.

Average processing time:

21 ±5 days

Available add-ons:

• Zonulin add-on for GIFX
• H. pylori add-on for GIFX
• Campylobacter add-on for GIFX E. coli
• C. difficile add-on for GIFX
• Lactoferrin add-on for GIFX
• Shiga toxin E. coli add-on for GIFX

Age requirements:

We do not generally recommend the GIFX for children under the age of two as they are still establishing their gut flora which can impact numerous findings on the test.
Inflammatory markers, such as calprotectin and lactoferrin, can also be skewed in younger children, especially if they are still breastfeeding.
Reference ranges for many of the markers have not been established for this population.

Research

Downloadable research

• The risk of upper gastrointestinal complications associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, acetaminophen, and combinations of these agents

• Gastrointestinal flora and gastrointestinal status in children with autism–comparisons to typical children and correlation with autism severity

• Prevalence and risk factors of stress-induced gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill children