Case Report
The Microbiome Center regularly organizes peer review meetings for affiliated physicians, during which individual case studies are discussed. These sessions provide an opportunity to share experiences and improve treatment strategies. Successful cases are regularly documented in case reports. Below, you will find an overview of the most important case reports to date.
6: Acne
On May 30th, we hosted an interesting webinar on the connection between the skin and the gut—something you likely encounter often in your own practice. During the webinar, this compelling case from one of our affiliated physicians was presented, and we would love to share it with you.
Eva, a 32-year-old woman, had been struggling with acne for 16 years and recurrent vaginal yeast infections. Multiple dermatological treatments had failed to produce results. She also experienced fatigue and various hormonal complaints. Eva had already modified her diet to a low-carb, sugar-free regime, but unfortunately, this had not alleviated her symptoms.
The photo below shows her skin condition before treatment.
Her microbiome shows a diversity score of 6 and a dysbiosis index of 20, a good amount of butyrate-producing bacteria, but a significant overgrowth of Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, and Pseudomonas, as well as a slight increase in Candida parapsilosis, with no indications of inflammation or leaky gut.
The treatment consisted of:
• MyOwnBlend with the following ingredients:
- And vitamin D, Linidol, magnesium, Omega-3, Silybum-Curcuma, Lypogold (enzymes), and Kandillon
Her diet was not changed.
After 6 weeks, she was doing very well—almost all of her symptoms had disappeared. She was no longer tired, woke up feeling refreshed, had no more vaginal complaints, and her skin looked radiant. Her condition remained stable in the following months.
The follow-up test showed a remarkable reduction in (potentially) pathogenic bacteria.
Comment by treating physician Dr. Roos Quadekker:
“I’m impressed by the positive outcome. It’s a great example of how personalized microbiome therapy can improve overall health.
What’s also remarkable is how sustainable the improvement has been—the body appears to maintain homeostasis on its own following the therapy.”
In Focus:
The strain Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus SP1 is known to help reduce acne, likely due to its influence on insulin resistance¹.
This strain is also used to support oral health and assist in gluten breakdown.
¹ Fabbrocini, G. et al. Beneficial Microbes 7, 625–630 (2016)
This is exactly why we do what we do at the Microbiome Center—and why you do it too, as a practitioner. In clinical practice, we see that 72% of people using MyOwnBlend experience a good or very good result. We can increase that percentage by learning more together from our patients’ outcomes. We build this knowledge together: you as the practitioner by using our platform, the patient by sharing their results, and we by analyzing the data and feeding that knowledge back into the system.
We aim to share an inspiring case report with you every month.
Do you have a case you’d like to share for education and inspiration?
Get in touch with us!
5: Autism
Microbiome Therapy for Autism
Fila (6 years old), from a Bulgarian family, was registered in April 2024 with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the University Hospital Frankfurt. She suffered daily from a bloated stomach, urge to eat (especially carbohydrates/sugar), no feeling of satiety, restless behavior, abnormal bowel movements and could not speak – only make sounds. There were frequent toilet visits with little output, strongly varying stool consistency, and suspicions of systemic and neurological imbalance. At the start, she used Omni-Biotic 9 and Gilalia, among other things.
Diagnostics
Severely disturbed diversity (low Shannon index) and increased dysbiosis index Increased intestinal permeability (including increased zonulin and secretory IgA) Overgrowth of potentially pathogenic species Microbiome analysis April 2024: clear abnormalities
Treatment and construction
After analysis, the following was started:
– MyOwnBlend (custom preparation with LGG, Bifidobacterium, prebiotics, anti-inflammatory substances)
Clinical effect within 4 weeks
– Bloated abdomen disappeared
– Stools stabilized (2-3x per day, less variable)
– Balance and calmer behavior
– Beginning of speech development
– Neurological examination confirmed clinical improvement
Progress and follow-up research
During the summer/fall of 2024:
– Mother reports: fewer skin complaints, more calmness, improved adaptation
– Started with Lunafini in September
– Clear improvement visible on EEG scan compared to October 2023
Second microbiome analysis fall 2024
– Overgrowth of potential pathogens disappeared
– Still increased intestinal permeability
Second phase MyOwnBlend
From December 2024 new composition:
– LGG, S. boulardii, Akkermansia, PHGG, 2’-FL
– First reaction: soft, smelly stools → dosage adjusted Within a few days the balance was restored and Fila did not get any infections, despite her mother being seriously ill.
Winter 2024/2025: Language development and cognitive gains
– Fila began to understand questions and consider answers
– Improved memory and learning ability
– She can now retain information, which she couldn’t before
– “She’s calm, everything is fine,” her mother said
Conclusion: microbial modulation as an opportunity in ASD
Fila is an example of how targeted microbiome therapy, based on extensive analysis, can positively influence not only gastrointestinal complaints but also behavioral and neurological symptoms in children with autism. In children with GI complaints and autism, treating the microbiome is a promising and substantiated intervention route. Questions about this case or about the use of MyOwnBlend in autism? Feel free to contact the Microbiome Center. We are happy to think along in clinically complex situations.
New ingredient with evidence of effect on autism
A small study with a formulation that included the probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Lpc-37 showed some beneficial effect on autism. If you score on autism in the advice aid, this strain may be part of the advice (depending on which other indications are scored).
Webinar Autism
Missed the webinar on autism? You can watch it again in the videos on our website
4: Histamine
Histamine and SIBO – A Breakthrough in Treatment!
We get a lot of questions about histamine, both from patients and practitioners, which is why we recently dedicated an extensive webinar to it. One of the cases discussed was this one:
A 39-year-old man had been struggling with chronic abdominal complaints, fatigue, headaches, mental overstimulation, chronic nasal congestion and OSAS since his youth. Despite various tests, a solution remained elusive.
Diagnostics
A SIBO breath test showed hydrogen SIBO, and microbiome analysis showed increased inflammatory markers, increased intestinal permeability, increased anti-gliadin antibodies, extremely high histamine levels.
Results 13-04-2024:
Approach & treatment:
- Dietary intervention: elimination of gluten and sugars, increased protein intake.
- 2 weeks of Elemental Diet followed by MyOwnBlend and digestive enzymes.
Results after 3 months:
✅ SIBO resolved
✅Histamine completely normalized
✅Complaints greatly reduced (no stomach ache, better nasal breathing, more energy
✅ More than 10 kg weight loss , less headaches)
Results 01-07-2024:
Webinar Histamine
Missed the webinar on histamine? You can watch it again in the videos on our website
3: Depression
The role of the intestinal microbiome in psychological complaints: a successful case
Did you know that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in brain and mental health? A disturbed intestinal microbiome can contribute to psychological complaints such as depression, anxiety and fatigue. At Microbiome Center we see every day how personalized microbiome treatments can make a crucial difference.
A special case
Erik (23 years old) had been struggling with serious mood problems, sleeping problems, headaches, stomach complaints and loss of energy for 10 years. Despite several consultations with medical specialists, the cause remained unclear and the complaints persistent. It became impossible for him to continue his studies. He had been registered for specialist psychiatric treatment with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder, but due to the long waiting list of six months, he started microbiome treatment in the meantime. During a microbiome analysis we discovered signs of SIBO and a severely disturbed intestinal flora. Erik received a personalized microbiome treatment with MyOwnBlend, including probiotics, PHGG (fibers) and other targeted elements.
The result?
- Sleep pattern restored: from 15 to 8 hours per night.
- Energy level: from 10-20 to 70-80 on a scale of 0-100.
- Abdominal complaints completely disappeared.
- Allergic reactions disappeared.
- Mood significantly improved (from 1 to 8 on a scale of 10)
Erik was able to happily resume his studies and now experiences sufficient energy to handle his daily activities. Both Erik and his mother are convinced that without this microbiome treatment his complaints would not have been resolved.
What does this mean for your practice?
This case once again underlines the strong link between the gut microbiome and mental health. Targeted microbiome analysis and personalized therapies offer new starting points for the treatment of both physical and psychological complaints.
Do you have questions about personalized microbiome treatments or how you can support your patients in this? Please feel free to contact us!
Webinar depression
Missed the webinar about depression? This can be viewed in the videos on our website
2: Vaginal Probiotic Ovules
Positive Experiences with Vaginal Probiotic Ovules
The vaginal microbiome has a completely different character than the gut microbiome, where, for example, very low diversity is considered healthy. A healthy vaginal microbiome is dominated by one of four Lactobacillus bacterial species, with dominance of L. crispatus in particular being associated with health. Over the past two years, we have gained extensive experience with the use of our vaginal probiotic ovules. We have received numerous positive responses from users who have benefited from this treatment for various vaginal issues, such as candida, bacterial vaginosis, and even fertility problems.
Below, we would like to share the experience of one of our affiliated doctors who tried the ovules herself.
User Experience
- Profile: Female, 40 years old, doctor
- Complaint: Recurrent yeast infections, preferring not to use medication
- Treatment: Prescribed vaginal ovules to herself
Her findings:
“The symptoms of itching and clumpy discharge disappeared very quickly. I used the ovules for more than a week, then stopped during my menstruation. After that, I used one ovule twice, directly after my menstruation. This has ensured that both the candida and an unpleasant odor have stayed away to this day. I would definitely recommend the ovules.”
Product Information: Vaginal Probiotic Ovules
Our vaginal ovules contain three active strains:
– L. crispatus SP28 (2,5×10⁹ cfu/ovule)
– L. crispatus LCR01 (2,5×10⁹ cfu/ovule)
– L. acidophilus La02 (2,5×10⁹ cfu/ovule)
The matrix of the ovule is composed of cocoa butter and coconut butter, ensuring optimal application.
Availability:
Available in packages of 30 vaginal ovules for €88. A leaflet with clear instructions is included.
Order or More Information?
Feel free to contact us or visit our website for more details
1: SIBO Case Study
SIBO stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, the presence of an excessive number of bacteria in the small intestine that cause symptoms. It is common and often difficult to treat.
Here is a real-life example:
A 52-year-old woman visited her general practitioner with skin complaints—itchy spots on her arms, legs, and torso that would last for days to weeks in one location and then appear elsewhere. She was also extremely fatigued. Her symptoms began after receiving a double course of antibiotics due to a Lyme infection. Upon further questioning, she also reported digestive issues: frequent bloating, and irregular bowel movements that were hard, greasy, sticky, and difficult to pass.
She was a yoga instructor with a job in healthcare that she could no longer perform due to her fatigue. Her diet was healthy, with lots of vegetables and a small amount of fish and meat. However, she had noticed that she no longer tolerated dairy well, as it worsened her digestive symptoms. Her microbiome analysis showed: giversity: 6, dysbiosis index: 18, pH: 6.9, low levels of enterococci and lactobacill, high fat content in the stool and elevated zonulin (a marker for gut permeability).
Personalized Treatment
Due to a strong suspicion of SIBO, treatment was targeted accordingly, but also tailored to her specific health complaints—bloating, fatigue, mild leaky gut symptoms, etc.
She was prescribed a MyOwnBlend with the following ingredients:
She used it according to the thermos flask method: each evening, she dissolved the next day’s dose in a thermos with lukewarm (37°C) water, let it sit overnight, and sipped it gradually throughout the following day. This method activates the bacteria, allowing them to produce active metabolites like lactate and acetate, so they are immediately effective upon consumption.
Follow-Up
Her skin complaints disappeared within three weeks (see before-and-after photos below).
She no longer experienced bloating and had regular bowel movements once daily (Bristol Stool Chart 3–4). More importantly, her energy returned, and she was able to go back to work. The follow-up microbiome test showed measurable improvements: diversity: 5, dysbiosis index: 17, pH: 6.5
Diagnosis
Diagnosing SIBO involves three pillars:
- Symptoms: bloating and fatigue after eating, irregular greasy and sticky stools
- SIBO breath test (e.g., from Biovis)
- Stool analysis indicators: elevated pH, low levels of lactobacilli and/or enterococci, high fat content, and elevated zonulin.
In Focus:
SIBO treatment can be challenging. Symptoms are often hard to manage and may return. In some cases, standard probiotics worsen symptoms. Strains that are typically more effective include are bacillus strains (spore-formers), saccharomyces boulardii and the enterococcus faecium. The prebiotic PHGG (partially hydrolyzed guar gum) is one of the few fibers usually well tolerated. By completing the treatment advisor tool and assigning a high SIBO score, these ingredients often come up as recommended.
Every patient has unique health issues and symptoms. It’s essential to tailor the approach accordingly to increase the chances of success. It’s also crucial to identify and, if possible, remove the underlying cause.
In this case, the cause was the antibiotic treatment—an acute disruption—so once the microbiome balance was restored, the symptoms resolved. However, SIBO can have many different causes. Additional recommendations alongside MyOwnBlend may include:
- Avoid eating too frequently (intermittent fasting)
- Limit carbohydrates / FODMAPs
- Use digestive enzymes, herbal supplements like berberine and very important: eplenish any deficiencies caused by impaired digestion (e.g., vitamin B12)
Comment from treating physician Dr. Karin Pijper:
“What makes this case so remarkable for me is that the patient was already doing everything right—no stress, regular exercise, healthy diet—and yet, she became completely imbalanced after the antibiotics.
All she did during treatment was take the MyOwnBlend, and within a short time, her symptoms disappeared—not only her gut issues, but also her fatigue and skin problems.
This case has helped me better recognize SIBO patterns.”