Is it possible to restore keystone gut bacteria when low or missing?

Is it possible to restore keystone bacteria (see my previous post on this subject) if stool testing shows they're low or missing? This questions occupies my practice more these days with low good bacteria common.

The answer is sometimes, but it depends.

If Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Akkermansia muciniphila, or Bifidobacterium species are very low or undetectable on stool testing, recovery is possible with plenty of care.

Factors that impact regrowth

  1. Residual populations - undetectable doesn’t mean zero. Tiny populations may survive hidden in biofilms or mucosal layers, and can regrow if properly nourished

  2. Gut environment - inflammation, infections (SIBO, parasites, pathogens), or leaky gut must be healed first for reseeding efforts to succeed ie the environment must be hospitable environment

  3. Extent of damage - long-term dysbiosis, antibiotic overuse, or early-life factors (C-section, no breastfeeding) can make regrowth harder

  4. Dietary inputs - keystone bacteria need specific foods (resistant starches, polyphenols) to multiply

  5. Microbiome plasticity - some people's guts adapt and regrow easier than others. Also, Akkermansia is easier to regrow than Faecalibacterium

In very damaged guts with truly extinct species, full recovery might not be possible naturally without extreme interventions (like faecal microbiota transplantation).

The good news is that even without full restoration, supporting other beneficial species can help create a stronger, more functional microbiome.

GUT HEALTH, GENERAL HEALTH, FOOD AS MEDICINE, FAMILY HEALTHGutsy by Nutritiongut health, microbiome, keystone gut bacteriaComment