COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 741
● Lower alpha diversity is associated with numerous chronic
conditions [14]
● Alpha diversity scores should be compared to healthy
reference populations [15]
● Diversity increases resistance to pathogen colonization and
functional resilience [16]
When examining test results, alpha diversity provides a
fundamental starting point for understanding the overall health of
the microbiome.
Beta Diversity
Beta diversity measures how different a patient's microbial
composition is compared to reference populations [17]. Unlike
alpha diversity (which counts species), beta diversity examines
whether the types of microbes present align with expected
patterns:
● Beta diversity helps identify whether a patient's microbiome
composition is unusual [18]
● High beta diversity (significant difference from reference)
may indicate adaptation issues [19]
● Environmental factors and geographic location influence
expected beta diversity [20]
● Beta diversity patterns help determine whether the
microbiome is adapted to current conditions [21]
This metric provides context for understanding whether microbial
profiles match what would be expected for a healthy individual in
similar circumstances.
Microbiome Resilience
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