Method: Shotgun metagenomic sequencing (CLIA 21D2062464); not cleared or approved by the FDA. Results reflect relative microbial abundance for wellness education purposes. Not intended to diagnose or treat disease and not a substitute for clinical consultation. Microbial associations are based on emerging scientific research and may change over time. Derived from laboratory results. This score or index is not an FDA-cleared test. It aids clinician-directed assessment and is not a stand-alone diagnosis.
A derived biomarker is a value that is calculated from other directly measured biomarkers rather than being measured directly in the lab.
Key benefits of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio testing
- Classic gut microbiome balance ratio tracking
- evolving marker of dietary and metabolic patterns
What is Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio?
The Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio is the most historically cited gut microbiome ratio, comparing the two dominant phyla. While its interpretation is more nuanced than early research suggested, it remains a tracked indicator of phylum-level gut composition balance.
Why is Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio important?
Early research associated elevated Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratios with obesity, though more recent work has complicated this simple narrative. The ratio continues to be tracked as a basic phylum-level balance indicator, with context from specific species data providing more interpretive depth.
What insights will I get?
Your Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio provides a traditional phylum-level balance snapshot. It is most informative when interpreted alongside species-level data from both phyla - including specific butyrate producers (Firmicutes) and polysaccharide fermenters (Bacteroidota) tracked in your report.
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