Basic View: Intestinal Health

Typical Biomarkers

Jona’s insight

Steatocrit: Marker for fat malabsorption

Elastase-1: Marker for pancreatic exocrine function | Jona does not include a biomarker for steatorrhea because there are very effective tests available for steatorrhea (eg: fecal fat) that are covered by insurance. If you suspect a patient has steatorrhea and document it is present, the Jona test can help you determine the cause by the microbiome signatures it identifies with the conditions associated with steatorrhea

Steatorrhea can be caused by a range of conditions like Celiac Disease, Crohn’s disease, SIBO, Chronic pancreatitis, and more.

Jona directly analyzes how similar the microbiome is to those with conditions like Celiac and Crohn’s disease which helps identify the root cause, not presence of an issue, before it could even develop.

Jona’s list of conditions that are assessed will continue to grow as well.

Biomarker

Jona’s insight

Fecal Calprotectin: Neutrophil function in mucosa of the colon; used to indicate inflammatory disease of the Colon.

There can be spurious elevations of this marker. Typically only run if someone has symptoms of Colitis.

Jona identifies the microbiome signature for inflammatory bowel disease.

Secretory IgA: Adequate immune function, measure of the small intestine lining.

Typically run if patients experience symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea. 1 in every 600 people have IgA deficiency, which can make them vulnerable to infections and autoimmune diseases.

Jona identifies the microbiome signature for inflammatory GI conditions (anything that causes destruction to lining of the gut - Celiac, IBD).

Anti-gliadin IgA: Marker for Celiac disease

Jona identifies the microbiome signature for Celiac disease.

EPX: is an enzyme found in the granules of eosinophils and plays a role in the immune response by killing parasites, bacteria, and other pathogens. It is also elevated in allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis contributing to the inflammation and tissue damage seen in these conditions.

Jona identifies the microbiome signature for Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s disease and also checks for all known parasites and pathogens.

Jona’s list of conditions that are assessed will continue to grow in the future to include things like asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Zonulin: protein that regulates permeability of tight junctions in the gut. A biomarker for impaired gut barrier function.

Commercially available Zonulin assays, which have been used by most studies, do not detect prehaptoglobin-2, but related proteins such as properdin, CD5 antigen-like, and human coagulation factor X, which have an unclear relevance to barrier function. Hence, this test is discouraged for use as a marker for intestinal barrier function.

Jona identifies the microbiome signature for Leaky Gut,, a much more accurate approach which also opens therapeutic opportunities.

Biomarker

Jona’s insights

Beta-glucoronidase: is an enzyme produced by us as well as by certain bacteria in our fecal microbiome (Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and proteobacteria). Its main function is to remove sugar molecules from larger molecules like hormones. When it does, it can change the structure and effect of these hormones

Jona provides a list of organisms that produce this compound and identifies the microbiome signature associated with them.

Short chain fatty acids: are the product of fermentation of soluble fiber. The majority of these SCFAs are absorbed by the colon and can be beneficial for the immune system, regulation of metabolic rate and controlling cancer growth.

Jona provides a list of organisms that produce this compound

FIT: The least sensitive marker for blood in the stool with a sensitivity of only 74% and a test positivity of only 8%

Jona detects the microbiome associations for Adenomatous polyps, the precursors of colon cancer.