Dr David Brady discusses how the GI-Map Test brings the best technology available right now to answer many clinical questions that relate to a patient’s health. This advanced stool test not only provides answers to the state of the patient’s microbiome but can also point to relevant protocols for better patient outcomes.

.

Video Transcript…

Practitioners can incorporate the GI-Map into their practice in a multitude of ways. Many of them use the GI-Map as a routine test, virtually on all patients because of the importance of gut health to overall health. We know that the microbiota and the GI composition – of the ecology in the gut can be related to a whole host of different systemic and inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune diseases.

GI-Map Test a Useful Screening Tool in Clinical Practice

Many practitioners use the GI-Map Test quite frequently as a screening tool, but also, they use it strategically when someone would come in with intestinal complaints. Whether they have inflammatory bowel disease, IBS, or even no diagnosis, but a lot of ongoing bowel problems. The GI-Map can be very, very instrumental in actually solving some of those problems, and figuring out the best routes of treatment.

Communication steps with the patient about the GI-Map Test

00:55 I find very easy because, in my patient base at least, most of them are coming in with some understanding or some knowledge about the integrative and functional medicine approach. Most of them understand that we’re going to put great importance on gut health as it relates to overall health. So, they’re not necessarily surprised that we might want to look at those things.

Occasionally I have patients who are not familiar with that model, and we explain to them why the gut is so important in overall health, and what the current emergence of the literature suggesting that is, and they understand it really quickly.

Relevant Patient Questions Regarding the GI-Map Test

01:34 Some obvious things that you would ask related to GI-Map testing in a case history or a consultation with a patient are about direct gut problems.

• Do they have postprandial bloating?
• Do they have distention?
• Do they have diarrhea or constipation?
• Do they have excessive flatulence?

These are things that are very, very common complaints. If that’s the case, then obviously GI-Map testing is appropriate for that patient.

The Relevance of Family History of Autoimmune Disorders

02:01 In other circumstances, for instance, if we know they have a strong family history of any kind of autoimmune disorder, this can be relevant.

• Maybe rheumatoid arthritis runs in their family?
• Maybe inflammatory bowel disease?
• Maybe lupus?
• Maybe autoimmune thyroid problems?

We know that specific abhorrent patterns in the ecology of the gut microbiota is associated with a much higher incidence of those disorders. It’s really part of our approach in trying to be very proactive about having them not go on to get the same disorders that all of their relatives have.

The GI-Map helps guide us on how to have them experience a different outcome than maybe their family members did before them.

Pre-Review the GI-Map Test Results

02:44 When a GI-Map test comes back, I usually pre-review it before I see the patient, and just have a really good idea of what the priorities are on the test results, and what I would like to change, if anything, and how I would like to move this patient’s gastrointestinal health to a different place.

I sit down with the patient. I literally go over the test section by section. I explain to them, without getting too granular in the technical jargon and the immunology and the biochemistry, but just trying to explain to them in general:

• Why certain markers on the test would be associated with risk
• Or associated with specific symptoms
• Or more inflammation
• Or a marker may imply that they have leaky gut

Using the GI-Map Test to Create a Plan for Change

We might have a discussion about what leaky gut is, and how that might impart a greater risk for autoimmune disease. So we really take it almost analyte by analyte, and explain in layman’s terms what that means, and why it’s important, and furthermore, and probably most importantly to them, what we’re going to do to change it.

Gut Problems are Linked to Many Chronic Conditions

03:50 If somebody is doing nutritional medicine, integrative medicine, functional medicine, however you want to describe it, there’s no way around the fact that you’re going to be dealing with chronic, ongoing GI complaints in probably the majority of your patients. There’s no getting around the fact that gut problems are linked to a lot of the chronic disorders and diseases that drive people into those type of providers.

GI-Map Test: Highly Effective Technology to Know What is Going on in the Gut

04:14 In my view, there’s no way that a provider can really be practising comprehensively in these fields and not have a tool at their disposal to really look, to the best of our ability right now with the leading technology, at what is going on in the gut.

• What is the ecology of the gut?
• Is there inflammation?
• Is there leaky gut?
• Are they digesting?
• Are they absorbing?

All of these things are very important questions. The GI-Map Test brings the best technology available right now to answer those questions because it’s a quantitative, PCR, molecular method of doing that. It’s the most advanced stool test you’re going to be able to get your hands on.

Source: Live interview with Dr David Brady, December 2018, Sydney Australia