Table 1 Gut health and gastrointestinal healtha
Five major criteria for a healthy GI system | Specific signs of GI health |
|---|---|
Effective digestion and absorption of food | Normal nutritional status and effective absorption of food, water and minerals Regular bowel movement, normal transit time and no abdominal pain Normal stool consistency and rare nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and bloating |
Absence of GI illness | No acid peptic disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease or other gastric inflammatory disease No enzyme deficiencies or carbohydrate intolerances No IBD, coeliac disease or other inflammatory state No colorectal or other GI cancer |
Normal and stable intestinal microbiota | No bacterial overgrowth Normal composition and vitality of the gut microbiome No GI infections or antibiotic-associated diarrhoea |
Effective immune status | Effective GI barrier function, normal mucus production and no enhanced bacterial translocation Normal levels of IgA, normal numbers and normal activity of immune cells Immune tolerance and no allergy or mucosal hypersensitivity |
Status of well-being | Normal quality of life 'Qi (ch'i)', or positive gut feeling Balanced serotonin production and normal function of the enteric nervous system |