Microbiome test interpretation
Gut microbiome test reports often list bacterial levels and markers without clear guidance on how to interpret results. This page breaks down what common test results mean and how reliable they are.
Some reports also include higher-level labels such as enterotypes. See Foundations: Enterotypes for how to read those labels without over-interpreting category boundaries.
Marker interpretation table
| Marker | What it measures | High value meaning | Low value meaning | Reliability | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akkermansia abundance | Relative proportion of A. muciniphila in detected bacteria | Associated with leaner metabolic profiles in some cohorts; not diagnostic | Reported in obesity/T2D studies; may be below detection on some assays | moderate | Example species-level marker; see species page for detail |
| Alpha diversity | Richness and evenness of microbial species in a sample | Often associated with more complex communities; context-dependent “health” meaning | May reflect reduced diversity; also normal in some individuals and after antibiotics | moderate | Depends on sequencing method, lab pipeline, and reference population |
| Calprotectin | Neutrophil protein in stool; marker of intestinal inflammation | Suggests active intestinal inflammation; may warrant clinical follow-up depending on level and symptoms | Less evidence of neutrophil-driven inflammation in stool sample | high | Validated clinical biomarker; not a direct microbiome measure |
| Zonulin | Protein linked to intestinal permeability in research literature | Some studies associate higher levels with increased gut permeability | Lower levels in some permeability-related research contexts | low–moderate | Assay standardization varies; interpret with caution |