• Measures how your gut functions – reveals how your gut bacteria and body work together to produce health-related metabolites.
• Science-backed health indicators – analysis of three key tryptophan-related metabolites associated with gut health, immunity, and metabolism.
• Advanced analysis – utilizes HPLC-UV-FLD technology to achieve highly accurate results.
• Insights into balance – shows how a protective metabolite of gut bacteria is related to other informative indicators.
• Comprehensible scoring – your results are processed into an easy-to-read Gut Health Index.
• Personalized guidelines – tailored dietary and lifestyle recommendations, including a focus on fiber and polyphenols, based on your unique results.
• Simple home self-test – dry blood spot (DBS) collection, no stool sample required.

This test focuses on three scientifically important compounds:

• Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) – IPA level – a beneficial metabolite produced exclusively by gut bacteria from dietary tryptophan. Higher levels are associated with a stronger state of intestinal barrier integrity and protection against oxidative stress. IPA is increasingly recognized as a key indicator of gut microbiota function and its overall resilience.

• Tryptophan (TRP) – an essential amino acid obtained from the diet, which serves as a precursor (starting material) for IPA and kynurenine. The availability of tryptophan and the way it is digested can affect gut health, immune system function, and metabolic balance.

• Kynurenine (KYN) – a metabolite formed from tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway, often activated by increased immune stress. Higher levels of kynurenine and an increased KYN:TRP ratio are associated with enhanced immune system activation and a shift away from the beneficial production of microbial metabolites.

Why Tryptophan Metabolism is Important

Tryptophan metabolism is increasingly recognized as a critical hub linking gut health, immune system, brain, and metabolism. Gut bacteria convert tryptophan into a range of indole metabolites, including IPA – a health-promoting metabolite that supports intestinal barrier integrity, modulates immune responses, and helps protect against oxidative stress.

Research suggests that higher levels of IPA are associated with metabolic flexibility, glucose regulation, and immune function. On the contrary, when tryptophan metabolism is improperly regulated, it is more diverted into the kynurenine pathway – a pathway often triggered by your body's stress responses.

This metabolic crossroads between the body and gut bacteria is no longer a scientific curiosity – today it is perceived as a cornerstone of gut and systemic homeostasis. By decoding your tryptophan metabolism profile, this test reveals the functional output of your gut bacteria and how it relates to immune and metabolic pathways – allowing you to make evidence-based targeted changes to support your long-term gut health.

KEY PRODUCT FEATURES

Once the results are ready, you will receive:

• 5 useful pieces of information – your Gut Health Index, IPA level, and three key metabolite ratios, each with guidelines for improvement or maintenance
• Your Gut Health Index – a comprehensible summary of the balance of your gut microbe metabolite and immune system.
• Detailed data on metabolites – exact concentrations of IPA, TRP, and KYN in your blood.
• Analysis of key ratios – a clear explanation of key ratios and their significance for your gut, immune, and metabolic balance.
• Personalized recommendations – guidelines based on scientific insights about diet and lifestyle (such as fiber and polyphenols) that help improve or maintain your results over time.

Certified Test Kit
Zinzino has had this dried blood spot test certified for compliance with the European Directive 98/79/EC on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVD). This means that the test and all its components comply with legal regulations, which is why the set bears the CE mark.