Propionate production

Stool
check icon Optimal Result: 6.86 - 16.91 Healthy Relative Abundance IQR (%).

Propionate is a SCFA that can be produced by gut bacteria through the fermentation of key fibers or the metabolism of lactate. Propionate supports a healthy immune system by encouraging regulatory T cell differentiation in gut associated lymphoid tissues (GALT), and it also promotes gluconeogenesis in the liver, supports insulin sensitivity, and improves gut hormone production. Propionate and butyrate both work together to support healthy inflammatory responses by inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs) in macrophages and dendritic cells.

What does it mean if your Propionate production result is too high?

Propionate is produced primarily by Bacteroidetes via the succinate pathway and some Firmicutes through the lactate and succinate pathways. However, it can also be produced by Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Ruminococcus obeum, Coprococcus catus, Bacteroides vulgatus, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Veillonella parvula. Propionate is also known to have a strong, positive impact on the immune system. For example, it affects T helper 2 cells in the airways as well as macrophage and dendritic cells in the bone marrow, resulting in improved lung health and enhanced resistance to infection. Propionate is typically converted to glucose in the liver or used as energy by colonocytes and hepatocytes. Additionally, propionate may also prevent some of the lipogenic effects of acetate.

Elevated Propionate production levels may indicate:

  1. Microbial Imbalance: Overgrowth of propionate-producing bacteria like Bacteroides and Propionibacterium.
  2. High-Fiber Diet: Increased consumption of foods that promote propionate production (e.g., whole grains, legumes).

Health Implications:

Benefits:

  • Improved glucose regulation
  • Anti-inflammatory effects
  • Appetite control

Potential Concerns:

  • Gut dysbiosis (microbial imbalance)
  • Digestive discomfort (e.g., bloating, gas)

Managing Elevated Propionate Levels:

  1. Dietary Adjustments:
    • Balance fiber intake
    • Diversify food choices
  2. Support Gut Health:
    • Incorporate probiotics and prebiotics
    • Include fermented foods (e.g., yogurt, kefir)
  3. Lifestyle Changes:
    • Stay hydrated
    • Manage stress
  4. Professional Guidance:
    • Consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice
    • Consider regular gut health testing

Remember, while propionate has health benefits, excessive levels may indicate imbalances. A balanced approach to diet and lifestyle, guided by professional advice, is key to maintaining optimal gut health. 

All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.

What does it mean if your Propionate production result is too low?

Low levels of Propionate Production on a BiomeFx panel indicate a reduced ability of gut bacteria to produce propionic acid, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) derived from microbial fermentation of dietary fiber. Propionate, along with butyrate and acetate, plays a key role in gut health, metabolism, and immune regulation.

Potential Implications of Low Propionate Production

  1. Reduced Gut Barrier Protection & Increased Inflammation

    • Propionate helps regulate gut permeability, and low levels may contribute to a "leaky gut", increasing systemic inflammation.
    • This can be linked to conditions like IBS, IBD, and metabolic disorders.
  2. Impaired Blood Sugar Regulation & Metabolic Health Risks

    • Propionate plays a role in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
    • Low levels may be associated with higher blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
  3. Reduced Appetite Regulation & Higher Food Cravings

    • Propionate helps stimulate the release of hormones like GLP-1 and PYY, which promote satiety and reduce hunger.
    • Low levels may lead to increased appetite and cravings for processed foods.
  4. Altered Gut Microbiome Composition (Dysbiosis)

    • Low propionate can indicate a lack of fiber-fermenting bacteria like Bacteroides, Veillonella, and Firmicutes species.
    • This may suggest low microbial diversity or an imbalance due to poor diet, antibiotics, or chronic stress.
  5. Increased Cardiovascular Risk

    • Some studies link low SCFA production (including propionate) to higher cholesterol levels and increased cardiovascular disease risk.

How to Increase Propionate Production

  • Increase Fiber Intake (Prebiotics)
    • Foods: Oats, legumes, chicory root, flaxseeds, onions, garlic, and apples
  • Consume Resistant Starch & Complex Carbohydrates
    • Sources: Green bananas, cooked and cooled potatoes, whole grains
  • Support Propionate-Producing Bacteria
    • Probiotic foods: Fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut)
    • Prebiotic supplements: Inulin, FOS (fructooligosaccharides)
  • Avoid Excessive Processed Foods & Antibiotic Overuse
    • Highly processed, low-fiber diets reduce SCFA production

Laboratories

Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place

We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.

lab corp logo
genova diagnostics logo
quest diagnostics logo
dutch test logo
doctors data logo
vibrant america logo
diagnostic solutions logo
zrt laboratory logo
the great plains laboratory logo
cyrex laboratories logo
spectracell logo

Pricing Table

decoration

Personal plans

$15/ month

Complete Plan

Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Begin with first report entered
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

$250/ once

Unlimited Account

Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Receive 10 reports entered for you
  • Skip the $15/month subscription — no recurring payments ever

$45/ month

Pro Monthly

Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track lab results for multiple clients
  • Customize reference ranges per client
  • Export lab histories and reports
  • Begin with first report entered by us
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

About membership

What's included in a Healthmatters membership

microscope icon Import Lab Results from Any Source

person icon See Your Health Timeline

book icon Understand What Your Results Mean

textbook icon

textbook icon Visualize Your Results

folder icon

folder icon

card icon Securely Share With Anyone You Trust

Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story

What Healthmatters Members Are Saying

5 stars rating

I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with  any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.

Anthony

Unlimited Plan Member since 2021

5 stars rating

What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!

Karin

Advanced Plan Member since 2020

5 stars rating

As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!

Paul

Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.

  • Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
  • Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.

With a Healthmatters account, you can:

  • Upload lab reports from any lab
  • View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
  • Track trends and monitor changes over time
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export and share your full lab history
  • Access your results anytime, from any device

Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

shield icon

We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

gdpr compliance image hipaa compliance image