Chronic abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating are common gastrointestinal symptoms. While a structural or an organic disease can be suspected because of the symptoms and is often easy to be diagnosed by endoscopy or imaging methods, sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms are not related to any alteration that may be seen through diagnostic techniques, and consequently have been classified under the umbrella of “disorders of gut-brain interaction”.

While celiac disease affects predominantly the small intestine, the contribution of the small intestinal microbiota has been largely understudied. New findings characterize the duodenal microbiota in patients with active celiac disease and explores its functional relevance.

Patients usually ask for microbiome tests to manage gut-related issues, to find out what type of diet or food supplement fits best and to get information about the risk of developing chronic diseases. But what kind of information do microbiome tests provide and how reliable are their results for clinical practice?

Gut microbiota, with its close links to metabolism and the immune system, could potentially be a factor that lies at the core of good health. This means it can be positioned at the heart of the processes that influence the risk of contracting different diseases.

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