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 Shannon diversity testing
- Microbial diversity tracking - combined breadth and evenness
- overall ecosystem balance assessment
What is Shannon diversity?
Shannon diversity is a derived composite diversity index that combines two dimensions: species richness (how many species are present) and species evenness (how evenly abundant they are). A high Shannon score means both many species and relatively balanced representation. Calculated from shotgun metagenomic sequencing data.
Why is Shannon diversity important?
Shannon diversity is one of the most widely used ecological diversity metrics in gut microbiome research. A diverse and even microbiome is associated with greater resilience, resistance to pathogen colonization, and a wider metabolic repertoire. Shannon diversity is often reduced by processed diets, antibiotic use, chronic stress, and limited dietary variety.
What insights will I get?
Your Shannon diversity score reflects the overall balance and breadth of your gut ecosystem. A high score may indicate a resilient, metabolically diverse microbiome. A low score may suggest ecosystem simplification - which may be addressable through dietary plant diversity, fermented foods, and targeted microbiome interventions.
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