Microbial evenness in the context of the gut microbiome is about how fairly the different types of bacteria share space in your gut. 1Michael Roswell, Jonathan Dushoff, and Rachael Winfree. “A Conceptual Guide to Measuring Species Diversity.” Oikos, v. 130 ,.3 pp. 321-338. doi: 10.1111/oik.07202 Microbial evenness is high when microbes coexist in equal proportions. Conversely, if one type of microbe dominates while others are barely present, evenness will be low. A high evenness score is typically a sign of a balanced gut microbiome that supports digestion and nutrient absorption, contributing to physical and mental wellbeing.2Young VB, Schmidt TM. Overview of the gastrointestinal microbiota. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;635:29-40. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-09550-9_3.
What is the Simpson Diversity Index?
The Simpson Diversity Index is a measurement that helps scientists study the gut microbiome by considering two important factors:
- diversity, and
- evenness.
In plain English, the Simpson Diversity Index is like a grading system that looks at how many different kinds of microbes are present in your gut and how equally they are distributed.
What does the evenness score mean?
The Simpson Diversity Index helps Chuckling Goat scientists produce your evenness score. A higher evenness score means that your gut microbiome has a good mix of various microorganisms that coexist in a balanced way. This diverse and evenly distributed ecosystem is usually linked to better health since it can support digestion, immune function, and protection against harmful pathogens. On the other hand, a lower evenness score might indicate a less diverse and unbalanced gut microbiome, which might be associated with various health issues like obesity, autoimmune disorders, or gastrointestinal diseases.3Liu W, Zhang R, Shu R, Yu J, Li H, Long H, Jin S, Li S, Hu Q, Yao F, Zhou C, Huang Q, Hu X, Chen M, Hu W, Wang Q, Fang S, Wu Q. Study of the Relationship between Microbiome and Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility Using 16SrRNA Sequencing. Biomed Res Int. 2020 Jan 30;2020:7828392. doi: 10.1155/2020/7828392.4Li Z, Zhou J, Liang H, Ye L, Lan L, Lu F, Wang Q, Lei T, Yang X, Cui P, Huang J. Differences in Alpha Diversity of Gut Microbiota in Neurological Diseases. Front Neurosci. 2022 Jun 28;16:879318. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.879318.5Biegert G, El Alam MB, Karpinets T, Wu X, Sims TT, Yoshida-Court K, Lynn EJ, Yue J, Medrano AD, Petrosino J, Mezzari MP, Ajami NJ, Solley T, Ahmed-Kaddar M, Klopp AH, Colbert LE. Diversity and composition of gut microbiome of cervical cancer patients: Do results of 16S rRNA sequencing and whole genome sequencing approaches align? J Microbiol Methods. 2021 Jun;185:106213. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106213.
Where to find the evenness score in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test
You will find your evenness score in the “Diversity” report in your Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test results. Your evenness score is combined with your evenness score to calculate your overall diversity score. Understanding microbial diversity is fundamental to learning about the community structure, biology and ecology of your gut microbiome. Your anonymised evenness score allows our team of scientists to further the research on the relationship between your food and lifestyle choices, your gut microbes and your resilience to disease.
Synonyms: microbiota evenness, microbial evenness, microbiome diversity, microbial community diversity, biodiversity of microorganisms, microbial species diversity, Simpson diversity, Simpson evenness
Important disclaimer
The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions with medications/health conditions before changing your diet or starting to take food supplements.
References
- 1Michael Roswell, Jonathan Dushoff, and Rachael Winfree. “A Conceptual Guide to Measuring Species Diversity.” Oikos, v. 130 ,.3 pp. 321-338. doi: 10.1111/oik.07202
- 2Young VB, Schmidt TM. Overview of the gastrointestinal microbiota. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;635:29-40. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-09550-9_3.
- 3Liu W, Zhang R, Shu R, Yu J, Li H, Long H, Jin S, Li S, Hu Q, Yao F, Zhou C, Huang Q, Hu X, Chen M, Hu W, Wang Q, Fang S, Wu Q. Study of the Relationship between Microbiome and Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility Using 16SrRNA Sequencing. Biomed Res Int. 2020 Jan 30;2020:7828392. doi: 10.1155/2020/7828392.
- 4Li Z, Zhou J, Liang H, Ye L, Lan L, Lu F, Wang Q, Lei T, Yang X, Cui P, Huang J. Differences in Alpha Diversity of Gut Microbiota in Neurological Diseases. Front Neurosci. 2022 Jun 28;16:879318. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2022.879318.
- 5Biegert G, El Alam MB, Karpinets T, Wu X, Sims TT, Yoshida-Court K, Lynn EJ, Yue J, Medrano AD, Petrosino J, Mezzari MP, Ajami NJ, Solley T, Ahmed-Kaddar M, Klopp AH, Colbert LE. Diversity and composition of gut microbiome of cervical cancer patients: Do results of 16S rRNA sequencing and whole genome sequencing approaches align? J Microbiol Methods. 2021 Jun;185:106213. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106213.
