The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of gut health

Although the term “gut health” is used frequently, it previously had no scientific definition. ISAPP led an expert scientific panel that met to discuss the current state of scientific and clinical knowledge on the physiology, manifestation, application and measurement of the concept of gut health. The definition of gut health advanced by this panel is “a state of normal gastrointestinal function without active gastrointestinal disease and gut-related symptoms that affect quality of life”. The authors identified six physiological domains of gut health, alongside the subjective patient experience, with the current state of metrics to explore for each. The framework proposed has applications for researchers designing gut health studies, as well as for the clinical management of digestive health and disease.

REFERENCE:

Marco ML, Cunningham M, Bischoff SC, Clarke G, Delzenne N, Lewis JD, Meisel M, Merenstein D, O’Toole PW, Staudacher HM, Szajewska H, Wells JM, Quigley EMM. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of gut health. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2026.