Welcome to Viome's Monthly Deep Dive!
Every month, we dive deep into the questions and curiosities of our community, where people like you seek to understand the profound connections between your body, your nutrition, your microbiome, your health, and ultimately – your happiness.
Our mission at Viome is to empower each individual with knowledge, creating a world where illness is optional. In this spirit, we've selected four pressing questions from our members this month, answering them with detailed insights backed by the latest research.
For those of you keen on learning more, we've also added a 'Deeper Dive' section at the end of each answer, directing you to further resources and studies to quench your thirst for knowledge.
This Month's Featured Member Questions:
Q:
With my new recent results I can have Tuna (Wild, Pole Caught) not sure what that means. I'm pretty sure it's not tuna in a can, lol, but where does someone get pole caught tuna? Can I have Ahi?
A:
The recommendation for tuna (wild, pole caught) applies to all forms of tuna, whether wild, farmed, or pole caught. We are working on updating the names in our app to be clearer. Stay tuned!
DEEPER DIVE:
There are some significant differences between wild and farmed tuna. First, wild tuna is caught by fishing boats in the ocean and makes up the majority of all fish on the market.
Farmed tuna is raised in tanks or pens in a controlled environment. It usually has a higher concentration of fats and omega-3 because the feed is heavily fortified, and it does not usually have a large area to swim for exercise. Fish farms need to be highly regulated to ensure that fish populations are not contaminated or diseased.
Only 10% of the fish market is pole-caught tuna, which is caught by individuals operating traditional line fishing poles.
You can be selective with the type of tuna you purchase based on your budget and how you would like to support the fishing industry and our environment.
Q:
What do you think about taking colostrum for gut health?
A:
Great question. Bovine colostrum powder has become more popular in the past year. It's rich in antioxidants, growth factors, oligosaccharides, and antibodies. Research shows that bovine colostrum reduces gut permeability in athletes and critically ill patients (these are ideal groups to study because heavy exercise and illness can lead to gut permeability),1 likely by stimulating the growth of intestinal cells. It's definitely a tool for those who struggle with gut barrier function, but it should be avoided with a milk allergy.
DEEPER DIVE:
Colostrum is a high-nutrition, high-antibody fluid produced by mammalian mothers immediately following the birth of their child before breast milk begins to flow. It is specifically excreted to promote growth and health in infants and newborn animals.
New research shows that human consumption of bovine colostrum (in the form of supplements) may support immune function and gut health beyond infancy.3 This supplement is rich in fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and growth hormones. 2
While bovine colostrum may benefit your gut health, more studies are needed on this nutrient.
Q:
I have gone from being vegan for 3 years to adhering to Viome's recommendations. Oxalates seem to be the problem with me, and the only veggies allowed are extremely limited. At what point can I start introducing veggies back into my diet, or will this be a continuing issue? ?
A:
Thanks for your question. Poor oxalate metabolism in the gut is not a permanent issue. These activities in our gut microbiome can be improved over time as we increase the diversity of our microbiome. If your Oxalate Metabolism Pathways are currently not optimal, we'd suggest minimizing your intake of foods highest in oxalates. Keep in mind that Minimize is not the same as Avoid. You can and should still eat some of these veggies; just try to limit Minimize foods to about two servings per day or less and pair them with a good source of calcium (like fortified plant-based milk or sesame seeds) as that helps bind the oxalates. Also, look to your Enjoy list for different veggies to make the star of your plate. A few low-oxalate veggies I enjoy are arugula, cucumber, cauliflower, avocado, asparagus, and artichokes.
DEEPER DIVE:
Oxalates are organic salts (Sodium chloride Nacl–or table salt, without iodine or anti-caking agent) that occur naturally in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other plants. Spinach is among the highest oxalate-containing foods, as are some other leafy greens like beet greens, purslane, rhubarb, chard, endive, and dandelion greens. If the body cannot metabolize oxalates efficiently, high levels can lead to the development of kidney stones. Reports show that close to 80% of all kidney stones are formed from calcium oxalate (CaOx).45
Read more in our Research article here.
Do you have a question about your Viome journey?
Have you joined our weekly live chat Q&A session?
Viome is built on a premise of biochemical individuality–meaning your biology and biochemistry is uniquely your own!
We measure over 10 million data points from expressed genes per sample from microbial (oral and gut) and human cells, allowing us to quantify, influence, and monitor your cellular and microbial pathways. This lets us know the nutrients or ingredients you need in order to stimulate or suppress certain functions and bring you back into balance.
We then create a supplement formula unique to every customer–precisely engineered for you based on what your scores reveal you need most.
In other words. every Viome journey is personal and dynamic.
Which makes it endlessly fascinating to explore and answer your questions along the way.
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Join our official Viome Facebook Community Group
It's an inspired collective of like-minded individuals committed to their health–like you.
And every week, we dive into Q&A Wednesday.
Every Wednesday, at 11 am PST, our Viome Clinical Nutrition Team hosts a live chat Q&A session to answer any pending questions about your Viome results & recommendations, Viome supplements, and your Viome journey.
The question thread opens early in the week, so you may submit your question in advance or attend live!
We hope you will join the conversation.
Follow this link, request to join, answer the questions, and we will see you inside the community.
Team Viome
References:
Dziewiecka H, Buttar HS, Kasperska A, Ostapiuk-Karolczuk J, Domagalska M, Cichoń J, Skarpańska-Stejnborn A. (2022). Nutrients. 2022 Jun 17;14(12):2512. doi: 10.3390/nu14122512. PMID: 35745242; PMCID: PMC9227274.
McGrath, B.A., Fox, P.F., McSweeney, P.L.H. et al. (2016). Dairy Sci. & Technol. 96, 133–158 (2016). doi.org/10.1007/s13594-015-0258-x
Godhia M.L, Patel N. (2013). Curr Res Nutr Food Sci 2013;1(1):37-47 doi : dx.doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.1.1.04
Evan, A. P. Pediatr. Nephrol. 25, 831–841 (2010).
Curhan, G. C., Willett, W. C., Speizer, F. E. & Stampfer, M. J. Kidney Int. 59, 2290–2298 (2001).
