Your gut microbiome is one of the most critical determinants of health — influencing everything from your mental well-being to your immune function to your fitness levels.

More people are recognizing this, which is why it’s a huge area of focus for functional practitioners. We’re also seeing an influx in startups, such as Jona Health and Viome, and gut-health focused supplements.

Despite the increasing investment in the gut microbiome space, there’s still a gap in the market. Studies show that the first 24 months of life represent a crucial developmental window for the establishment of the microbiome — and may even determine the composition of one’s microbiome for the rest of their lives. (1)

Yet most companies focus on addressing gut health issues in adults. However, there’s one new startup on the scene that’s trying to address this discrepancy: Tiny Health.

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What does Tiny Health do?

Tiny Health, which was founded by Cheryl Sew Hoythe and launched in 2022, offers the first at-home gut microbiome test developed for babies. According to a statement from Hoythe: 

“I was told my child would grow out of their eczema and allergies, but that wasn’t the case. From microbiome research I learned that I could improve my child’s conditions by healing the gut, which was a game-changer. However, there were no infant gut tests available to help detect imbalances and make corrections during the first 1,000 days of life, which is a crucial time for gut development.” 

Tiny Health also offers gut microbiome tests for adults, as well as coaching programs that are designed to get to the root cause of certain chronic health conditions. Some of the specific programs the company offers include: 

Babies & Children 

• Baby’s Gut Program
• Eczema Gut Rebalance
• C-Section Recovery
• Child’s Gut Program

Adults 

• Vaginal Health Program
• Fertility, Pregnancy and Post-Partum Program
• Optimize Program

To understand the potential impact of Tiny Health’s offerings, let’s take a closer look at the existing research around gut health. 

The importance of gut health

Our gut houses trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome. These microorganisms — which digest our food and produce energy, nutrients, and neuroactive compounds — play a crucial role in several facets of health: 

• Mental health. The gut microbiome also plays a vital role in terms of mental well-being. Specifically, they help synthesize neurotransmitters, hormones, and vitamins that are critical for mood regulation. For example, over 90% of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter related to mood, is synthesized in the gut. Research has also shown associations between gut dysbiosis — which can disrupt the production of certain neurotransmitters — and mood disorders like depression. 

• Physical health. Anywhere from 70% to 80% of our immune system lies in the gut, so it’s no wonder that the microbiome can have a huge impact on our physical health, including chronic health issues. The gut microbiome also influences important bodily functions such as gastrointestinal motility, digestion, nutrient absorption, hormonal balance, metabolic health, and inflammation levels. (2)

• Performance. The gut microbiome even has an impact on fitness levels. It can increase nutrient absorption, improve your workouts, optimize recovery after exercise, and boost energy metabolism. In a study of elite athletes, healthy gut microbiota was found to be linked to exercise improvements, a stronger immune system, better muscular performance, and improved cognition during athletics. (3)

Looking forward

All of this research points to the impact of gut health on our health journeys. And it’s clear that identifying potential gut issues early in life can help address the chronic health crisis affecting nearly 30 million U.S. children, and almost half of the adult population, today.

Tiny Health has already started this process, having helped over 25,000 families since its launch. The company also recently raised an $8.5 million Series A round and will use this funding to continue expanding its offerings and conducting IRB-approved clinical studies to show improved health outcomes of its own microbiome tests for the maternal-infant population. 

As more attention is given to the importance of the gut microbiome in shaping overall health, it’s likely that we’ll see an increased focus on preventative measures and early interventions.