Effect of mBIOTA Elemental Diet on Systemic Inflammation and Gut Microbiome in Microbial Overgrowth Syndromes

Presented at DDW 2026 | View Research | Watch Video

Overview

Investigation of the mechanism by which mBIOTA benefits overgrowth patients. The team looked at the impact of mBIOTA on inflammation markers to see if the benefit of mBIOTA was from the quieting of systemic inflammation or from the modulation of the microbiome. Markers of inflammation in plasma, cytokines, and chemokines were evaluated at baseline, immediately upon completion of ED, and 2 weeks after transitioning back to a regular diet.

Results

The modulation of the microbiome is the mechanism by which mBIOTA reduces symptoms in overgrowth patients. Systemic inflammation was within normal limits at all time points and was not significantly reduced post-ED, with the exception of modest decreases in 2 markers (IL-13 and CCL20). Importantly, overgrowth patients do not have especially high levels of inflammation, as opposed to IBD patients, so this may be different in other populations. 

The bacterial shifts seen in the trial were limited to specific species. Commensal bacteria (the microbes we regularly coexist with and rely on) were restored after transitioning back to a regular diet. In contrast, the populations of species associated with dysbiosis remained reduced post-ED, including M. smithii and C. albicans. 

Why It Matters

Elemental diets have anti-inflammatory benefits in inflammatory disorders, but the same effect is not seen in microbial overgrowth. The modulation of the microbiome is the predominant mechanism by which mBIOTA helps overgrowth patients. Patients’ markers of inflammation were at normal levels to begin with, and did not decrease overall with 2 modest exceptions.