Thyroid link with gut issues?

[AmandaK]

Has anyone had their gut microbiome tested?

Blue Horizon are promoting such a test, which analyses the following (the info in brackets is what the result scores are indicating.):

- Metabolic score (the tendency of an individual to lose or gain weight)

- Macronutrient Metabolism (the amount and activity of key microorganisms involved in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolisms)

- Vitamin Synthesis (the number of vitamin-synthesizing bacteria in a person’s gut )

- Lactose and Gluten Sensitivity (the bacteria that are known to contribute to a body’s ability to process lactose and gluten)

- Sugar Index (he amount activity of bacteria widely known to be associated with sugar metabolism)

- Processed Food Index (the bacteria directly related to a body’s ability to metabolize processed foods)

- Bowel Mobility (the intestinal motility and highlights the proneness to constipation or diarrhea)

- Antibiotic Damage (the antibiotic damage that has occurred recently or has not improved since last usage)

- Autoimmune Index (the bacterial groups associated with autoimmune diseases)

- Sleep Quality (the microbiome affects sleep)

It also assesses propensity to certain conditions, such as autoimmune disease and thyroid-related disorders, and provides a nutrient score and a list of foods that are best fit to you specific microbiome, foods that can be tolerated and those to avoid.

This seems a very useful test, especially for those whose thyroid status has been dismissed by the medical establishment.

It's also useful in that it provides a personalised list of foods and advice about improving gut health.

Any thoughts?

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

hi I haven’t seen this test before,is it this one ?

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

it looks similar although perhaps more strains tested than the one I did with the Zoe programme which told me a bit about my microbiome, (healthy but not very varied), their program taught me I don’t process sugar well at all, I get big crashes called reactive hypoglycaemia. I have always processed fat well and eat quite a high fat diet which suits me. The test confirmed this. At £207 it might be cheaper to do the Zoe first bit and you would get the 6weeks with continuous glucose monitor which I found the most valuable. I quit after a few weeks of the Zoe diet part though it was less healthy than my own diet and made me bloated and tired.

I know from doing the Izabella Wentz intro to AI elimination diet that I had food sensitivities. GP tested coeliac which was inconclusive so suggested I had a wheat/grain allergy. I already had a pre-existing lactose issue that has turned into a full dairy allergy.

Let us know how it goes if you take the test, I’ll be fascinated 🤓

[AmandaK in reply to Regenallotment]

Yes, this is the test. I should have provided the URL.

I'm considering getting it done as it does seem comprehensive. I've toyed with the Zoe protocol, but put off by the complexity. I'm particularly interested in the thyroid bit as I don't have a straightforward diagnosis. Certainly not when considering NHS reference intervals.

Will report back if I proceed.

[Judithdalston in reply to AmandaK]

The demo example strikes me as very odd for British diet, presumably American, and for that matter for someone who has been a Zoe advocate for years…dark chocolate gets ‘1 point’ in red in this example, and teas are bad…. If it’s your thyroid you are concerned about then stick to the protocol you find on this forum get your vit D, B12, folate and ferritin in upper part of ranges by diet change or supplement, and look at other mins/ vits like selenium, zinc, magnesium etc etc. trying to stick to the diet , or similar, suggested by Blue Horizon traffic lights would drive me potty!

[Farrugia]

I did the Zoe programme when it first came out in the uk. I was disappointed when I got my microbiome test results back (they weren't terrible but they weren't great) because I eat a good diet, plenty of veg and no ultra processed food. A friend who eats loads of ready meals did it at the same time and her scores were better than mine. I was so surprised (and outraged!) that I queried it with Zoe and they said it's probably because I have Hashimoto's. It was very interesting to do the programme and wear the glucose monitor (bread really isn't my friend!) and it is all personalised to a degree but in the end I decided we should probably all just try to eat as big a variety of fresh veg as we can, good quality protein, healthy fats and try to limit sugar and highly refined carbs. I think if you can afford some sort of microbiome test then it's really interesting but if money is tight then eat as healthily as you can and as the other poster recommended keep a good level of the vitamins and minerals that are important for thyroid health.

[AmandaK in reply to Farrugia]

Thank you, I'm not intending to go down the Zoe route, which is why I was thinking of opting for the Blue Horizon test as it seems wider in scope than Zoe in terms of what's tested.

But useful to hear about your experience, which seems pretty bizarre. Beginning to wonder if your results were mixed up with someone else's.

Also I'm picking up that some medics are sceptical about Zoe, but not sure how widespread that is.

[Farrugia in reply to AmandaK]

They sent me a link to a scientific paper about it but I can’t find the link now. I don’t think it’s surprising that the microbiome is linked to autoimmune disease.