In recent years doctors and scientific research have begun to acknowledge the importance of gut health because of its contribution to longevity and overall health. The gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microbes.
Gut microbiome plays a vital role in training and modulating the immune system. The gut microbiome interacts with the immune system, influencing its activity and response. Imbalances in the gut microbiome can lead to immune system dysregulation and chronic inflammation in the gut. This inflammation can contribute to the development and persistence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms.
Studies have shown that individuals with IBS often exhibit alterations in the composition of their gut microbiome compared to healthy individuals. There may be an imbalance in the types and proportions of certain bacterial species in the gut, which can impact gut function and contribute to IBS symptoms. The microbiome plays an important role not just for gut health but also the mental well being of people. Individuals suffering from IBS have been shown to struggle with a multitude of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, which is often exacerbated when they don't receive the proper treatment.
BioAro, a Calgary-based biotechnology company, is working to help individuals around the world gain access to microbiome testing and services so they can be properly treated for IBS. The company is now announcing the launch of their online and in-person gut clinic, aiding patients on a global scale.
The online clinic is designed to provide a three month transformative journey designed to conquer the complexities of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The integrated team utilizes precision medicine, analyzing the gut microbiome, personalized nutrition, stress alleviation, tailored exercise, and medical solutions, to provide comprehensive care for effective IBS management. When people first sign up for the program they will send in a microbiome sample to BioAro's headquarters where the sample will be analyzed to understand the causes of their symptoms using genomic testing.
Once the samples are sent, there will be a virtual and/or in person meeting with a health coach who will assess and relate them back to their symptomatology. Afterwards, multiple meetings will be set up with BioAro's multidisciplinary team of dietitians, mental health experts and exercise experts. These meetings are set up in order to understand the patient's condition, food preferences and triggers so that a tailor made plan can be created for each individual over the next three month period. Throughout the three month period, specialists at BioAro will remain in regular contact with users of the platform to ensure the program is working for you and address any issues the users are still having.
During the course of the three month period patients using the platform will be sent another gut microbiome kit. This sample will be analyzed to get a comparative report detailing the outcome of the three month treatment program.
Anmol Kapoor, Founder of BioAro, says the program is the first of its kind in the world and presents a huge opportunity for people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome.
"This is the first time that any clinic is taking a multi-service precision based approach to a problem that millions of people are suffering from," says Kapoor. "A lot of the patients we work with have been to many types of doctors regarding irritable bowel syndrome, and they don't receive the proper treatment. This is a huge opportunity to show people how genomics and our microbiomes can help in the patient population that is suffering from irritable bowel syndrome."
To accompany the launch of the online platform, BioAro is planning to open new facilities in the United States, U.A.E and Europe, so people who are sending in samples of their microbiome as part of the three month program can have their test results sent to them sooner. New facilities in these regions will allow samples to be sent to those individual locations instead of the headquarters in Calgary.
"Treating irritable bowel syndrome is an unmet need in healthcare. Using genomics and the microbiome testing we will be able to provide individualized care to our patients and help them understand the causes of their symptoms and what the proper methods of treatment are for them," says Kapoor.
