The 'Microbiome' Reveals the 'Bare Face' of My Body's Environment [Post-Reporters]

[Financial News] The saying by ancient Greek physician Hippocrates that "all diseases begin in the gut" is still a valid proposition in modern science. In fact, recent research results reveal that the microbiome, a microorganism in the gut, has a decisive impact on overall health beyond gut health. Recently, I had the opportunity to experience CJ Bioscience's microbiome analysis service 'SmileGut' and receive an objective score on my gut environment.
The service, which analyzes stool samples, provides a 'Gut Health Index (GMI)' score. The results were shocking. Despite enjoying social drinking but taking supplements regularly, my gut health index was only 40 points. This was 25 points lower than the average of 65 points for my age group.
SmileGut diagnosed the gut type as 'Inflammation Monster (Type O)' along with the GMI score. This means that the balance of gut microorganisms is unstable, making it prone to inflammation. Detailed analysis results showed that the proportion of harmful bacteria causing gut inflammation was in a 'caution state', 26.4% higher than the average for healthy individuals in their 30s.
On the other hand, the beneficial bacteria factory producing butyric acid, the main energy source for gut cells, was in a 'stopped state', indicating a lack of butyric acid-producing bacteria. Fortunately, microbial diversity was 'a rich forest', but the high proportion of harmful bacteria made it an unstable state where balance could be disrupted at any time.

The reporter, who realized the necessity of gut health management through this experience, focused on the personalized solutions provided by SmileGut. SmileGut not only provided scores and warnings but also suggested specific improvement plans to encourage action.
It proposed customized ingredients (purple sweet potato, perilla seeds, oats, brown rice, etc.) suitable for the inflammation monster type and provided recipes using them. Additionally, based on research results showing an 11.4-point improvement in GMI for people with similar gut microbiome environments, it recommended customized probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus plantarum, offering hope for gut health improvement.
This experience was an opportunity to realize once again that gut health is not just limited to digestive function. SmileGut explained in detail that the microbiome is closely linked to overall health, including immunity, inflammation, brain health, skin, and even cancer.
It was explained that 'dysbiosis', an imbalanced state of gut microorganisms, can cause chronic inflammation, which can lead to various diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease. Protecting gut health greatly helps in maintaining overall health and realizing the need to correct current lifestyle habits.
SmileGut seemed to be able to attract the interest of the young generation in their 20s and 30s and serve as a helper in maintaining health. The ability to quantitatively understand the internal environment and obtain personalized solutions based on scientific data was particularly appreciated.
However, the service's inconveniences were also noticeable. Collecting stool samples was more cumbersome than expected, and there were shortcomings in the sample collection system. Improving the collection method and increasing accessibility to consumers could further enhance satisfaction.

vrdw88@fnnews.com Kang Jungmo Reporter