The gut microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms living within the digestive system. These microbes form a complex ecosystem that helps support digestion, immune regulation and many other biological processes.

When the balance of microbes within this ecosystem becomes disrupted, scientists refer to this as dysbiosis.

Dysbiosis describes a state where the normal balance of beneficial and other microbes in the gut changes. Researchers are increasingly studying how microbiome imbalance may influence digestive health, inflammation and immune responses.

Understanding dysbiosis helps explain why maintaining a balanced and diverse microbiome is considered important for overall gut health.

Founder Insight

Hanna Sillitoe first became interested in the role of the gut microbiome while naturally treating her psoriasis. During this time she began exploring research into how gut bacteria influence inflammation, digestion and immune responses.

This experience sparked a long-standing interest in how microbiome balance may influence health from within.

What Is Dysbiosis?

The term dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the composition of the gut microbiome.

A healthy microbiome contains a wide variety of microbial species living together in balance within the digestive system. Dysbiosis occurs when this balance is disrupted.

This disruption may involve:

• reduced microbial diversity
• changes in the abundance of certain bacterial species
• shifts in the overall microbial ecosystem

Because the gut microbiome interacts with many systems within the body, changes in microbial balance may influence digestive processes and immune signalling.

How Dysbiosis Can Occur

Many factors can influence the balance of microbes living in the digestive tract.

Diet

Diet is one of the most important influences on the microbiome. Diets low in fibre and plant diversity may affect the composition of gut microbes.

Antibiotic Use

Antibiotics are designed to eliminate harmful bacteria, but they can also affect beneficial microbes within the gut microbiome.

Researchers are studying how antibiotic exposure may influence microbiome balance.

Stress

The gut and brain communicate through the gut–brain axis, a network linking the digestive system and nervous system.

Stress can influence digestive processes and may also affect the composition of the microbiome.

Lifestyle Factors

Sleep, physical activity and environmental exposures can all influence microbial composition within the digestive system.

Dysbiosis and the Gut Ecosystem

Researchers often describe the gut microbiome as an ecosystem, similar to a natural environment such as a forest.

In ecosystems, balance between species helps maintain stability. When this balance shifts, the ecosystem may become less stable.

A similar concept applies to the microbiome. Changes in microbial composition may influence how microbes interact with each other, with the gut lining and with immune cells within the digestive system.

Scientists are continuing to study how microbiome balance influences gut health and overall wellbeing.

What Research Shows

Scientific research has identified several ways that microbiome composition may change in states of dysbiosis.

Research findings include:

• Reduced microbial diversity – Some studies have observed lower microbial diversity in certain digestive and inflammatory conditions.

• Changes in microbial composition – Dysbiosis may involve shifts in the relative abundance of different microbial species.

• Immune system interactions – Because the microbiome interacts closely with immune cells, microbial imbalance may influence immune signalling.

• Altered microbial metabolites – Changes in microbiome composition may affect the production of beneficial microbial compounds such as short-chain fatty acids.

These findings have led researchers to explore the microbiome as an important area of study in digestive and immune health.

Sources

Lozupone CA et al. Diversity, stability and resilience of the human gut microbiota. Nature, 2012.

Koh A et al. From dietary fibre to host physiology: short-chain fatty acids as key bacterial metabolites. Cell, 2016.

Flint HJ et al. Links between diet, gut microbiota composition and gut metabolism. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2012.

Sender R et al. Revised estimates for the number of human and bacterial cells in the body. PNAS, 2016.

Supporting a Balanced Microbiome

Maintaining a healthy microbiome involves supporting microbial diversity and balance within the digestive ecosystem.

Several everyday habits may help support microbiome health.

Eat a diverse range of plant foods

Plant foods provide fibre that helps nourish beneficial gut bacteria.

Increase fibre intake

Dietary fibre acts as fuel for microbes and supports microbial fermentation processes.

Include fermented foods

Fermented foods such as kimchi, kefir and sauerkraut contain naturally occurring microorganisms that may help support microbiome diversity.

Maintain healthy lifestyle habits

Regular sleep, physical activity and stress management can influence microbiome balance.

Consider probiotic support

Some people choose to support their microbiome with probiotics — live microorganisms designed to help maintain microbial balance within the digestive system.

Common Questions About Dysbiosis

What does dysbiosis mean?

Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the composition of the gut microbiome.

What causes microbiome imbalance?

Many factors can influence microbiome composition, including diet, antibiotic use, stress and lifestyle factors.

Can diet affect dysbiosis?

Diet plays an important role in shaping the microbiome, particularly through fibre and plant diversity.

Conclusion

The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem made up of trillions of microorganisms living within the digestive tract. Dysbiosis describes a state in which the balance of microbes within this ecosystem becomes disrupted.

Researchers continue to study how changes in microbiome composition may influence digestive health, immune signalling and inflammation.

Supporting microbiome balance through diet, lifestyle habits and microbiome support may help maintain stability within this complex internal ecosystem.

Some people choose to support their microbiome with probiotics — live cultures designed to help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria. Learn more about our Multi-Strain Biotic and how it supports gut health.