Exclusive | Do you need a $599 gut test? What your poop can tell you about your health

It’s a gut-wrenching problem.Research indicates that around two-thirds of US adults struggle with persistent tummy troubles like gas, bloating and abdominal pain — and few seek medical help.Some take matters into their own hands by keeping a food diary to identify potential triggers, eating certain foods to track the appearance and frequency of bowel movements or taking an at-home microbiome assessment.GutID is a new testing option that officially launched earlier this year.The stool sample exam is designed to comprehensively explore the delicate community of bacteria, viruses and fungi living in our gut and highlight ways to improve it.Diet, especially fiber intake, medications like antibiotics, age and lifestyle choices influence the composition and diversity of gut bacteria.Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome is crucial — imbalances have been linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Type 2 diabetes, obesity, dementia and even certain cancers.

GutID comes amid a concerning rise in colorectal cancer diagnoses in people under 50.“Everything the microbiome does is very explainable — it all makes sense and it all works as it should,” Paul Denslow, CEO and co-founder of Intus Bio, told The Post.“We just haven’t had the technology to see it in the detail or with the completeness or with the accuracy required to be actionable,” he added.“And GutID is really the first test to do that.”Intus Bio sells two GutID tests — Core Gut Insights ($399) focuses on gut function issues, while the Complete Microbiome Assessment ($599) takes a broader look by delving into the gut-brain axis, which plays a significant role in the development and progression of various diseases.But while DIY microbiome tests have become more popular, some researchers have cast doubts about their value.

A gastroenterologist last year compared them to “snake oil” and complained that they “usually lead to more questions than answers.”Denslow said GutID’s science-backed ...