Dysbiosis
In plain language
A healthy microbiome is like a well-functioning team: diverse, balanced and resilient. Dysbiosis is when that team falls out of balance — beneficial species disappear, less desirable ones gain the upper hand, or diversity declines. This can happen after a course of antibiotics, through a one-sided, low-fibre diet, chronic stress, poor sleep or illness. The consequences are often vague and broad: a bloated feeling, irregular stool, fatigue or lowered resistance. Important to know: dysbiosis is not a diagnosis you can simply attach to a complaint — it is a descriptive term for imbalance, and the link with disease is often not yet fully understood. The good news is that the microbiome is resilient: with fibre-rich nutrition, variety and rest, the balance can often restore itself.
The science behind
Dysbiosis is an umbrella term for a deviation from a 'healthy' microbiome profile. Because no single universal healthy composition exists, dysbiosis is usually described functionally: loss of diversity, a decline in beneficial butyrate producers, overgrowth of certain taxa, or a shifted metabolite output.
• Loss of butyrate producers. A decline in species such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii reduces the production of butyrate, with consequences for the gut barrier and inflammation regulation.
• Barrier weakening. Fewer short-chain fatty acids and a disrupted mucus layer can increase the permeability of the gut wall ('leaky gut' as a hypothesis).
• Inflammatory tone. A shift towards more pro-inflammatory signals (for example via lipopolysaccharides) is associated with low-grade inflammation.
• Cause or consequence? In many conditions it is still unclear whether dysbiosis plays a role as cause, consequence or accompanying phenomenon.
Recovery usually focuses on the underlying drivers: fibre-rich and varied nutrition, sensible antibiotic use, sleep and stress regulation. My InnerSelfie describes microbial imbalance as one supportive observation within the broader picture, never as a conclusive explanation. This reading is supportive and observational — not a medical diagnosis.
Related concepts
Further reading
Balance and resilience of the microbiome are covered in depth in HOST by Petra Van Gucht. See the books →
Scientific references
• Nature, Signal Transduction & Targeted Therapy — microbiota review (s41392-022-00974-4).
• Specialized Pro-resolving Mediators — Resolution of Inflammation.
Frequently asked questions
- What is dysbiosis?
- A disrupted balance in the microbiome: reduced diversity or function that lowers the resilience of the ecosystem.
- What causes dysbiosis?
- Often a combination: antibiotics, a low-fibre or one-sided diet, chronic stress, poor sleep, illness or ageing.
- Can dysbiosis be restored?
- The microbiome is resilient. Fibre-rich, varied nutrition, rest and sensible antibiotic use usually support the recovery of balance.
- Is dysbiosis a disease?
- No. It is a descriptive term for imbalance, not a diagnosis. The link with specific conditions is often not yet fully clarified.