Features & Benefits

The GI Map is a leading Advanced Stool test and one that Jarrod Cooper – ND uses on just about all of his patients in the Australia.

The test is a key part of the Functional Medicine Solution program and is highly recommend this be completed.

There is in depth training and interpretation, along with supplement recommendations based on imbalanced markers from Jarrod Cooper-ND inside the Functional Medicine Solution online program.

Features & Benefits

The GI Map stool test is the most comprehensive stool test available and one I recommend most in clinic.  The GI Map stool test uses superior DNA and PCR technology to analyse the sample.

Stool testing provides an excellent insight into the overall function of the gastrointestinal tract and also gives clues as to why many seemingly unrelated systemic symptoms are occurring.  These include fatigue, skin issues, anxiety and depression, brain fog, bloating and many more.

Stool testing is done in the convenience of your home and returned to the lab via the provided packaging and express postal bag.

The GI map stool test provides a detailed microbiome mapping outline of the levels of a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, parasites, worms, fungi and yeasts.  Understanding the presence and levels of these types of organisms is vital in assessing the function of the gut and its association with the other systems of the body.

We commonly uncover the presence of parasites, high levels of dysbiotic bacteria, low levels of beneficial bacteria as well as poor digestion markers in patients.  The presence of these markers can greatly affect the overall health of the patient.

Symptoms regularly associated with abnormal stool test findings include;

Some of the more common parasites, yeasts and dysbiotic bacteria found include:

Parasites

lastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, and Cryptosporidium

Dysbiotic bacteria species at higher levels

Pseudomonas species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus species, Staphylococcus aureus, Morganella species, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium

Potential Auto-immune triggering bacteria

Citrobacter species, Citrobacter freundii, Klebsiella species, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Prevotella copri and Proteus species

Fungi and Yeast

Candida species, Candida albicans, Geotrichum species, Microsporidium species and Rhodotorula species.

Bacterial pathogens

Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter, C. difficile, Salmonella, E. coli O157 and Yersinia enterocolitica

Viral pathogens

Adenovirus 40/41, Norovirus GI/II

Beneficial bacteria

Bifidobacterium species, Lactobacillus species, Enterococcus species, Bacteroides fragilis, Enterobacter species

The GI Map test also provides a thorough list of functional markers. They provide a great assessment of the overall function of the gut and efficiency of the overall gastrointestinal tract.  These markers include.

Calprotectin

A marker that assesses inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.  Neutrophil releases calprotectin protein, one of the white blood cells in the body. Neutrophils become present in the gastrointestinal tract in the presence of inflammation. Then they release calprotectin, that further results in an increased level of calprotectin in the stool.

Pancreatic elastase

It provides feedback on the functioning of the pancreas and the body’s ability to produce sufficient enzymes for digestion.  Common symptoms that occur with low pancreatic elastase are loose watery stools, undigested food in the stools, floating stools. It can also lead to post-prandial abdominal pain, nausea or colicky abdominal pain, gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, bloating or food intolerance.

Faecal Secretory IgA

Production of Secretory IgA is important to the normal function of the gastrointestinal mucosa as an immune barrier.  It represents the first line immune defence of the gastrointestinal tract.

Upregulated immune response associates elevated levels of secretory IgA .

Low levels of Secretory IgA are often present where bacterial overgrowth, parasites and/or food intolerances are present that have caused damage to the mucosa lining.  In order to bind invading micro-organisms, there is mucosa lining. It depletes with higher numbers of dysbiotic bacteria, parasites and regular exposure to intolerant foods.  Food intolerances progress and become wider spread the lower the levels of secretory IgA.

Zonulin

A small protein that is produced in the gut. It has a biomarker of intestinal permeability, also known as “leaky gut”.  High levels of zonulin in the stool sample indicate the presence of a compromised gastrointestinal tract wall.

The significance of intestinal permeability is widespread, compromised tight gap junctions in the intestinal barrier begin to allow a much higher amount of protein molecules through to the blood stream which begin to trigger the immune system.  Long term implications can lead to the development of autoimmune disease.  Further on, leaky gut will slowly cause additional foods to become intolerant and reaction to the point where there a many foods that cannot be tolerated by the patient.

Beta-Glucoronidase

It is an enzyme produced in the beneficial E-coli in the gastrointestinal tract.  High levels of beta-glucoronidase can inhibit phase two of liver detoxification, a process known as conjugation.  This is where substances are converted to water soluble compounds and made available for elimination by the body.

High beta glucoronidase interferes not only with the clearance of toxins but also hormones, namely Estrogen.  The estrogen and toxins do not clear and are therefore reabsorbed. Thus, leading to toxic overload, inflammation and estrogen dominance.  High levels of estrogen can be related to breast cancer as well as PMS symptoms and a poorly regulated menstruation cycle.

The GI Map test is the gold standard of stool testing and the most common test we use in our clinic.  Many symptoms and underlying disease causes can be explained and treated through correctly interpreting the results from the GI Map stool test.