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Back in 2015, I was a subject in a Stanford research study where I submitted daily microbiome samples before/after a colon gut cleanse. I sent an identical sample to a DTC microbiome startup and sure enough, the results match 🧵

In return for submitting microbiome samples for a Stanford research study, I was promised the raw Phyloseq data from the lab. I'm happy to say that last week the lab gave me my results!

So what did I learn? I cleaned out my gut microbiome and what happened?

1. My gut microbiome recovers pretty quickly. Unlike antibiotics, which can cause long-term (and possibly permanent) changes, losing bacteria this way seems to matter only for a day or two. The missing microbes sprout right back just like a haircut. In two weeks it was as if nothing had happened.

2. Amounts and ratios changed, but not the specific organisms. Of course I lost a bunch of bacteria – that was the point – but surprisingly I didn’t seem to gain anything really new, even after an aggressive attempt at re-seeding. I didn’t gain or lose a single phyla.

3. It’s pretty hard to make a significant change. I’m a healthy, reasonably fit adult, so I’m not as motivated as somebody with a specific health problem, but I thought simply popping probiotics and eating a variety of new and fermented foods would have a big effect. Nope.