Gut health test: understanding your gut flora

Your gut flora plays an important role in your body.
The gut health test gives you insight into the activity of your gut bacteria and what they produce.
The test works simply: with a quick finger prick and a drop of blood, three substances associated with the processing of tryptophan are measured.

What is measured?

• Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) - a substance formed by intestinal bacteria
• Kynurenine (KYN) - a substance formed during activation of the immune system
• Tryptophan (TRP) - an amino acid that you get through food

Results in clear indicators

The results are clearly presented in five indicators: a gut health index, the IPA value and three ratios.
Instead of just showing which bacteria are present, this test shows how they function - without the need for a stool sample.

Key benefits of the gut health test

✅ Insight into cooperation - the test provides a picture of how gut bacteria and your body work together to create substances that play a role in various processes.
✅ Analysis of three core substances - three tryptophan-related metabolites are examined that are associated with gut function, immune system and metabolism.
✅ Advanced technology - measurements are performed with HPLC-UV FLD technique for accurate analysis.
✅ Balance in view - results show how a protective substance of gut bacteria relates to other measured values.
✅ Clear summary - all results are displayed in a clear gut health index.
✅ Practical advice - based on the results, you will receive personal recommendations for diet and lifestyle, with a focus on fiber and polyphenols.
✅ Easy to perform at home - the test works with a drop of blood (DBS) and can easily be taken yourself, without a stool sample.

With a simple finger prick you take a small blood sample. In a GMP-certified laboratory, three substances associated with tryptophan processing are measured: indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), tryptophan (TRP) and kynurenine (KYN). Based on these values, ratios are calculated that provide insight into the balance between bacterial activity in the intestines (IPA) and immune pathways in the body.

Results and personal recommendations are made available securely and anonymously through zinzinotest.com.
For consistent results, it is recommended that the test be performed in the morning after a night of fasting (water only, at least 10 hours). Repeat the test every 120 days to track your trajectory. For reliable comparisons, take the test under similar conditions: sober, and not immediately after alcohol consumption, illness or intense exercise.

What you get

When the analysis is complete, you'll receive:

• Five practical insights: your gut health index, IPA value and three ratios, each accompanied by advice to maintain or improve
• A clear gut health index summarizing the balance of gut flora and immune metabolites
• Detailed data of the substances measured (IPA, TRP and KYN)
• Explanation of key ratios and their significance for the balance between gut, immune system and metabolism
• Personal recommendations for diet and lifestyle, with emphasis on fiber and polyphenols

What we measure

• Indole-3-propionic acid (IPA ) - a substance formed by gut bacteria from dietary tryptophan. IPA is considered an important indicator of gut flora activity and resilience.
• Tryptophan (TRP) - an amino acid that enters through food and serves as a starting point for the formation of both IPA and kynurenine. Tryptophan availability and processing provide insight into the balance of gut function, immune pathways and metabolism.
• Kynurenine (KYN) - a substance generated through the kynurenine pathway and associated with immune activity.

Kynurenine and ratios.

Kynurenine is a substance created from tryptophan via the so-called kynurenine pathway, a process that is often triggered by increased immune activity. Higher levels of kynurenine and an increased KYN:TRP ratio indicate a shift toward immune activation and away from bacterial metabolite production.

We also calculate these important ratios:

• IPA:TRP ratio - shows how much tryptophan from food is converted to IPA by gut bacteria.
• KYN:TRP ratio - gives an impression of immune system burden and is considered a marker for immune activation.
• IPA:KYN ratio - shows the balance between protective bacterial pathways and stress-driven processes in tryptophan metabolism.

In addition, the report includes a gut health index in which all measured values and ratios come together in a convenient chart.

Why tryptophan metabolism is relevant

Tryptophan metabolism is increasingly considered an important node where gut, immune, brain and metabolism meet. Gut bacteria convert tryptophan into indole metabolites, including IPA. This substance is considered an indicator of gut flora activity and system resilience.

Research suggests that higher IPA levels are associated with flexibility in metabolism and better regulation of glucose and immune functions. When metabolism becomes unbalanced, processing shifts more often to the kynurenine pathway, which can be activated by stress responses. This junction between body and gut flora is now considered a key mechanism for maintaining balance throughout the system.

By analyzing the profile of tryptophan, the test provides insight into the functional output of gut bacteria and their relationship to immune and metabolic pathways.

Certified and safe testing

• Performed by an independent GMP-certified laboratory with more than 25 years of experience in chromatographic analysis
• Results are completely anonymous and linked to a unique test ID
• The test kit complies with EU Directive 98/79/EB for in vitro diagnostics and bears the CE mark