COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 750
As our understanding of the microbiome continues to evolve,
testing methodologies will become increasingly sophisticated
[114]. The most meaningful clinical applications will focus not on
identifying "good" versus "bad" microbes, but on understanding
ecosystem function, resilience, and metabolic outputs [115].
By adopting an ecological perspective and focusing on
functional outcomes rather than microbial identities alone,
practitioners can more effectively translate microbiome insights
into meaningful clinical improvements for their patients [116].
The microbiome represents one of our most powerful windows into
patient health. When properly interpreted, these insights can
guide truly personalized interventions that address root causes
rather than simply managing symptoms [117].
References
[1] Gilbert JA, Blaser MJ, Caporaso JG, et al. Current
understanding of the human microbiome. Nat Med.
2018;24(4):392-400.
[2] Lloyd-Price J, Abu-Ali G, Huttenhower C. The healthy human
microbiome. Genome Med. 2016;8(1):51.
[3] Lozupone CA, Stombaugh JI, Gordon JI, et al. Diversity, stability
and resilience of the human gut microbiota. Nature.
2012;489(7415):220-30.
[4] Costello EK, Stagaman K, Dethlefsen L, et al. The application of
ecological theory toward an understanding of the human
microbiome. Science. 2012;336(6086):1255-62.
[5] Heiman ML, Greenway FL. A healthy gastrointestinal
microbiome is dependent on dietary diversity. Mol Metab.
2016;5(5):317-20.
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