Gut Health Check

A 60-minute gut health assessment combining comprehensive microbiome analysis, digestive function testing, and a functional medicine consultation to identify root causes of digestive and systemic health issues.

The Gut Health Check at Circle Health addresses the growing understanding that gut health influences far more than digestion — the intestinal microbiome plays a documented role in immune function (70-80% of immune tissue is gut-associated), mental health (via the gut-brain axis and neurotransmitter production), metabolic health (through short-chain fatty acid production and bile acid metabolism), and systemic inflammation (via intestinal permeability and endotoxin translocation). The assessment includes a comprehensive stool analysis that goes beyond standard pathogen screening to evaluate the full microbial ecosystem: bacterial diversity and composition (identifying overgrowth or deficiency of key species), fungal and parasitic screening, digestive enzyme activity (elastase, bile acids), intestinal inflammation markers (calprotectin, secretory IgA, zonulin as a marker of intestinal permeability), and short-chain fatty acid production (an indicator of beneficial bacterial metabolic activity). This level of analysis provides a detailed functional map of the gut environment rather than a simple pass/fail result. The functional medicine consultation interprets these results in the context of the patient's symptoms, medical history, and dietary patterns. Common findings include small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), dysbiosis (imbalanced microbial composition), leaky gut (elevated zonulin/intestinal permeability), and insufficient digestive enzyme production — conditions that frequently underlie seemingly unrelated symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, skin problems, joint pain, and mood disturbances. The treatment protocol that follows is highly individualised and may include targeted antimicrobial protocols, prebiotic and probiotic supplementation based on the specific microbial imbalances identified, dietary modifications (elimination protocols, specific fibre recommendations), digestive enzyme support, and gut-healing nutrients (L-glutamine, zinc carnosine, butyrate). Circle Health's integrated approach means that supporting therapies such as ozone therapy (for its antimicrobial properties) or IV nutrient infusions (to correct deficiencies caused by malabsorption) can be initiated immediately within the same clinic.