Viome is a company that wants to perform a trial on individuals to learn more information about the way that diet and exercise impact the bacteria in the gut. The program is free to engage in, but consumers will need to pay for yearly access to the information they use.
What Is Viome?
The gut needs plenty of attention to keep it balanced, but the only way that consumers will be able to get that effect is by taking care of their body. The use of probiotics is popular, though the way that they react in consumers bodies will entirely depend on the condition of their body. However, the people at Viome are working on a study to get a better understanding of the reaction from the body with different diet and lifestyle changes.
Understanding The Gut Microbiome
The gut contains trillions of microorganisms that help the body to digest, control infections, and more. However, there are many chronic conditions that could be affected by the gut, like obesity, Parkinson’s, and even autism. To stave off these conditions, consumers will need to keep their health.
Since every person is unique in their body, the nutrients are processed differently too. Viome is around to help learn more information about the gut of many individuals, which gives some insight to the general way that the body works. Studying the genes, the company can understand the different metabolites, and see what they do to support the ecosystem of the body. The suggestions that the company makes for the user’s eating habits and lifestyle will help the body function at the best ability as they study how it is different from other people.
Participating In Viome
While taking part in the Viome study, consumers will have to follow the instructions that the company gives during this time, which is primarily diet and lifestyle advice. This advice is based on the different samples and other information that the individuals provides, which means that everything is customized to the specific individual.
While engaging in the study, participants may have to do some of the following actions:
- Create an account with the Viome app and/or website
- Answer questions in the app, though they will not have an answer them all
- Track their diet
- Collect samples of their blood, stool, saliva, cheek swab, and/or urine
- Practice good hygiene during sample and data collection
- Consume a sweet drink before some sample collections
- Measure blood glucose levels
- Provide blood samples from their arms
The individual will need to send these samples about once a month, though they will need to decide on their own how frequently they want to send them in. Some people participate in the study for 10 years, based on their results.
While the above list includes necessary agreements for participants, these are the optional ways that individual can get even more from the study. Those ways include:
- Receive and wear a device to monitor the user’s vital information
- Wear a personal activity tracker that can upload to Viome
- Receive a scale that measures body composition
- Track the location of the user’s smartphone or tablet for gathering environmental data
Viome will perform analyses on the information. They want to check for microbes, gene expression, and metabolites, which all indicate the activity in the body. All the tests will be stored on a cloud server for Viome, where the company will evaluate the information to recommend changes for the individuals.
Benefits And Risks Of The Viome Study
When engaging in any medical studies, there are certain risks and benefits that consumers need to consider. The benefits are substantial, but most of them are for the people learning the information they need from the study.
As a participant, consumers will primarily enjoy the benefits of coaching for their diet and lifestyle habits, which is something that everyone could enjoy. With this guidance, some consumers can reach their wellness goals, though that is not the actual point of the study, so consumers should not rely on receiving those benefits. The whole point of this regimen and guidance is to help the creators to understand how the various biological system work with the diet, which makes knowledge the greatest benefit.
Unfortunately, with any trial, consumers are subject to many risks. While these risks are not necessarily a deterrent from participating in the study, they are important for consumers to prepare themselves for the upcoming changes to their routine. The risks include:
- Potential minor pain from the blood-draw lancet device
- Pain when collecting stool, urine, blood, or saliva samples
- Being recommended foods that the user is sensitive to or allergic to
- Not changing the user’s condition
- Emotional discomfort from the participant or from family members over the personal information
- A safety breach of personal information
- The samples and data potentially being shared in public databases
- The prediction of future health problems that could be deemed “pre-existing conditions”
- Warning signs of different illnesses that consumers will need to discuss with a doctor
- Potential anxiety over the unknown conditions
There are unknown risks that can arise, depending on the individual.
Financial Commitment For Viome
When someone decides to participate in this trial study, they will not technically have to pay anything to get involved. However, since the engagement in the study gives consumers access to a platform that shows them the different diet and exercise, they will need to pay for a year of service, which is $399.00.
To sign up, consumers will need to join through the website, and submit their shipping information to get the essential materials. During this time, consumers will also be asked if they have an iPhone or iPad to participate.
Contacting The Creators Of Viome
Even with the substantial amount of information available about the Viome trial, consumers may have other questions that they want to ask. There is no phone number available, but any participant can send their concerns to [email protected].
Conclusion
Viome seeks to gain knowledge about a wide array of participants through the study of their gut in a more balanced atmosphere. There are many risks involved, so consumers will need to decide if the risks are worth taking at all.
