Your microbiome has 38 trillion reasons to matter

Growing microbiome research highlights just how vital gut health is to our overall well-being. Around 80% of our immune system is linked to the gut, meaning that supporting gut function is key to lifelong health.

There are many ways to support your gut — from eating nutrient-dense, fiber-rich foods and taking targeted supplements to working with a gut health coach. But when it comes to gut care, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. For instance, while a probiotic might help some people, it could be counterproductive for others. If your gut already has high levels of a certain beneficial microbe, taking a probiotic might increase it too much, lowering your overall microbiome diversity — something essential for a balanced gut.

That’s where Dayhoff’s gut microbiome testing comes in. Testing helps identify imbalances specific to your microbiome and guides you toward personalized solutions. It empowers you to make informed decisions — and with retesting, you can track whether dietary shifts, supplements, or probiotics are working as intended.

The short answer: it’s never too late to test your gut.
Gut health matters at every stage of life — and the earlier you establish a baseline, the better.

During the first year, a baby’s microbiome undergoes rapid development, laying the foundation for lifelong health. That’s why we encourage parents to test as early as possible — ideally from birth through age 3, and even beyond.

A child’s gut continues to mature until around ages 3 to 5. During this window, there’s a unique opportunity to monitor and support their gut development. Testing during this time can help you identify imbalances and make impactful changes.

But even after the gut has matured, there’s still tremendous value in testing. For older children and adults, microbiome testing can reveal:

• Hidden inflammation that may contribute to leaky gut
• Levels of bacteria that produce anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids
• Overall microbiome diversity
• Biomarkers tied to immune health and fiber digestion

No matter your age, understanding your gut health empowers you to take preventive steps. Even low-grade inflammation can signal the need for early intervention — and research continues to link gut health with healthy aging and longevity.

Every Dayhoff microbiome test includes a comprehensive report, personalized recommendations, and expert guidance. You'll get tailored insights on diet, supplements, and lifestyle based on your age and unique results.

Take control of your health at any age — explore our testing options to get started.

It’s true that many conventional healthcare providers aren’t yet familiar with microbiome testing or probiotics. These tools aren’t part of the current standard of care, and most medical training includes very limited education on the microbiome or nutrition — even though diet is one of the most powerful ways to support gut health.

While traditional medicine excels in diagnosing and treating illness, it often falls short when it comes to prevention and long-term wellness. In fact, it can take over a decade for new scientific discoveries to make their way into everyday clinical practice.

But that doesn’t mean you have to wait.

At Dayhoff, our team of leading pediatric scientists and physicians is advancing microbiome science to support families today. We're focused on prevention and early intervention — and we’ve built tools to help you access this important science now, not 10 years from now.

With a Dayhoff test, you're taking a proactive step toward lifelong health, grounded in the latest research and personalized to your unique microbiome.

Dayhoff microbiome tests screen for over 120,000 microbes, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, and archaea — giving you a comprehensive look into your gut microbiome.

Each test kit includes a mess-free stool, easy-to-follow instructions, and a prepaid return mailer. Once returned, your sample is analyzed at our CLIA- and CAP-certified lab using high-resolution sequencing technology. In just 3–4 weeks, you’ll receive a personalized, science-backed report tailored to your age and health needs.

What You’ll Get:

Summary + Expert Highlight
Start with a clear, personalized summary of your gut health. A Dayhoff microbiome expert walks you through the key findings and gives you actionable insights to get started.

Key Insights by Age
Your report is age-specific. A 4-month-old’s metrics differ from a 12-month-old’s, and a toddler’s report won’t look like an adult’s. We focus on what matters for you right now.

Microbiome Breakdown
See a detailed list of all microbes detected — categorized as beneficial, unfriendly, variable, or unknown — down to a 0.05% abundance. No other baby gut test offers this level of resolution.

Condition Markers
We identify microbiome signatures linked to certain conditions, helping you understand potential risks based on the latest scientific research.

Personalized Action Plan
Get practical, evidence-based recommendations based on your test results and survey responses. This may include product suggestions, trusted brands, and tailored advice on diet, supplements, and lifestyle.

Dayhoff helps you take the guesswork out of gut health — with expert-backed insights designed to support wellness at every stage of life.

Yes — eczema, allergies, and asthma are all inflammatory conditions, and the gut plays a key role in managing inflammation. Dayhoff microbiome tests help identify the root causes of inflammation by analyzing your gut microbes, giving you a clearer path to reducing symptoms and improving overall health.

How Gut Health Impacts Inflammatory Conditions:

1. Early Microbiome Development Shapes the Immune System
During the first few years of life, gut microbes play a critical role in educating the immune system. If the microbiome is out of balance during this time, it can lead to improper immune responses, increasing the risk of conditions like eczema, allergies, and asthma. Addressing imbalances early helps guide the immune system toward healthier, more regulated behavior.

2. Imbalances at Any Age Can Trigger Inflammation
Even in older children or adults, an imbalanced microbiome can contribute to chronic inflammation. This can lead to a weakened gut lining (sometimes called “leaky gut”), overactive immune responses, and ongoing symptoms. Restoring gut balance can reduce inflammation and support immune health — no matter your age.

Why Testing Matters
While your gut may not be the only factor behind inflammatory conditions, it’s often a major contributor. Many families have seen noticeable improvement in eczema, allergy, and asthma symptoms after testing and taking targeted steps.

With Dayhoff, you’ll get expert-backed insights and a personalized plan to help restore gut balance — supported by a team of microbiome specialists who are here to guide you every step of the way.

No — a gut microbiome test cannot directly detect lactose intolerance or specific food allergies or sensitivities.

However, Dayhoff can provide insights into your gut health, which may be contributing to symptoms commonly associated with food sensitivities or digestive issues.

Understanding Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is the inability to properly digest lactose, a sugar found in milk. It’s different from a cow’s milk protein allergy, which is an immune response. While cow's milk protein allergy is relatively common in infants, lactose intolerance is very rare in children under 5 years old.

There are two types of lactose intolerance:

1. Primary Lactose Intolerance (Genetic)

• Caused by a genetic inability to produce enough lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose.
• This type is not linked to the gut microbiome.
• However, some beneficial microbes (like Streptococcus thermophilus) may support digestion and improve tolerance in mild cases.

2. Secondary Lactose Intolerance (Gut-Lining Related)

• Caused by damage to the small intestine lining, where lactase is produced.
• Often a result of chronic gut inflammation — which is influenced by the microbiome.
• Common in adults and can sometimes improve as gut health is restored.

How Dayhoff Can Help
While Dayhoff tests don’t diagnose lactose intolerance or food allergies, they can:

• Identify signs of gut inflammation and dysbiosis (microbial imbalance)
• Highlight microbiome imbalances that may contribute to food sensitivity symptoms
• Offer a path to reduce inflammation and support gut lining repair

If your child reacts to a wide range of foods, the underlying issue may not be the foods themselves — but rather an unhealthy gut environment. In these cases, supporting the gut microbiome may reduce overall food reactivity.

What to Do if You Suspect a Food Allergy or Sensitivity
For confirmed diagnoses of lactose intolerance or food allergies, speak with a healthcare provider. Testing options like blood tests or skin prick tests are better suited for identifying specific immune responses to foods.

Meanwhile, Dayhoff’s microbiome insights can be a powerful tool in identifying and addressing the root causes of gut-related symptoms — helping you take a holistic approach to healing and long-term wellness.