Viome reviews: Does it deliver on its gut health promises?

You may have heard before that your gut has a mind of its own and a unique microbiome ecosystem that influences your mental, physical, and overall well-being. Understanding this may help you take charge of your health. 

Viome is a platform that aims to decipher what your gut microbiome says about you. It also provides insights and teaches you about dietary and supplementation choices that could improve your health and relieve symptoms of various gut diseases. Still, some of the science behind these claims appears to be vague.

In our detailed breakdown of Viome reviews, we’ll explain Viome and its products. We’ll also examine whether there’s sufficient evidence to support its claims or if other services could give you a higher ROI on your health.

What is Viome Life Sciences?

Viome — or Viome Life Sciences — is a preventive health and longevity company providing at-home tests and personalized dietary recommendations. It analyzes your body’s microbiome and human gene expression to prevent chronic diseases and help improve your health. In Viome’s words, it strives to “make illness optional.”

The service focuses on three key areas to provide insights into 50+ health scores:

1. Gut microbiome

2. Oral microbiome

3. Cellular function

Viome’s key offerings include the Full Body Intelligence Test, Gut Intelligence Test, and Oral Health Intelligence Test. These tests take samples of stool, saliva, and blood to analyze the microbiome and human gene expression (mRNA).

Unlike many other services that rely on DNA — which is unchangeable — Viome looks at mRNA, which is constantly changing, and provides a snapshot of your current health status.

The tests are followed by tailored dietary and supplement recommendations, including Precision Supplements and Probiotics + Prebiotics.

How does Viome work?

Source: Viome.com

Viome uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyze your microbiome and mRNA, comparing your results against its gene expression database to identify health biomarkers and signs of chronic or acute disease. 

The process starts by choosing one of its three tests — Oral Health Intelligence, Gut Health Intelligence, or Full Body Intelligence, which includes the oral and gut tests, plus a cellular function test.

The tests address and let you learn about eight key health areas:

1. Biological age

2. Gut health

3. Oral health

4. Cellular and energy efficiency

5. Inflammation response

6. Brain and cognitive health

7. Immune system health

8. Heart and cardiometabolic health

Once your test kit arrives, you need to collect stool, saliva, and blood samples and send them back to Viome for analysis. The results are delivered in the Viome app and include health scores and tailored dietary recommendations for:

• Superfoods you should eat more

• Foods you should avoid

• Custom supplementations you should consider taking

Did you know 🧬

Your mRNA is constantly changing, so your current health state, acute illnesses, or temporary stress can influence these insights. As such, mRNA can point out current health imbalances and influence short-term dietary decisions but may not be reliable for creating long-term health plans. 

For this purpose, analyzing your DNA — which is constant throughout your life — with a DNA platform like Nucleus offers a more stable and personalized foundation for lifelong health strategies. Nucleus tests your DNA profile to identify your risk of developing 800+ diseases and conditions, including rare ones, all at a single price point. You can get your kit here!

Viome review: Key features and products explained

For a complete Viome review, we’ve evaluated five key service aspects of the platform:

1. Three Intelligence tests

2. Personalized supplements and products

3. Personalized dietary recommendations

4. Pricing structure

5. Customer satisfaction

1. Three Intelligence tests

Source: Viome.com

The crux of Viome’s offer lies in its three microbiome and cellular health “Intelligence” tests. These are:

1. Full Body Intelligence Test

2. Gut Intelligence Test

3. Oral Health Intelligence Test

The Full Body Intelligence Test includes the other two tests plus the cellular function test, so we’ll review this option only for brevity.

The test requires you to collect stool, saliva, and blood samples, followed by a questionnaire. Viome then analyzes these samples to provide you with more than 50 health scores that reveal how your current diet and lifestyle impact your health. 

The results also include a long list of foods you should eat more or avoid and a list of personalized supplements you should take. If you wish, you can purchase these directly from Viome.

In addition to these tests, Viome also offers the CancerDetect Oral & Throat Test. It detects biomarkers associated with early-stage oral and throat cancer and has received the FDA’s Breakthrough Device designation. However, Viome’s other tests are not FDA-approved and are not intended to diagnose conditions.

You can also get one of the three Health Solution bundles, which combine the tests and personalized supplements:

• Full Body Health Solutions

• Gut Health Solutions

• Oral Health Solutions

2. Personalized supplements and products

Your journey with Viome can stop with one of the three Intelligence tests, or you can pay extra for their Health Solutions products and services. These include a stack of personalized supplements based on your test results, tailored to your health needs, including:

• Personalized Supplements: Custom capsules filled with tailored, clinically-backed compounds recommended by Viome’s tests. The dosages are adjusted to your needs, and the stack consists of 8 daily capsules and a 30-day supply delivered monthly.

• Personalized Gut Biotics: A personalized blend of prebiotic microbiome strains and probiotic fibers designed to improve your digestive health. Viome designs this blend based on your Gut Intelligence test results, aiming to repopulate your gut with beneficial bacteria.

• Personalized Oral Biotic Toothpaste: Two daily toothpaste packs (morning and evening), created based on your Oral Intelligence Test results. The ingredient list is personalized with your oral biotics and other active compounds.

• Personalized Oral Biotic Lozenges: Personalized lozenges made with a tailored list of ingredients designed to support your oral microbiome and gum health.

According to Viome, the dosage of each ingredient is based on clinical trials and the severity of your potential deficiencies. The supporting supplementation insights focus on the following:

• Vitamins

• Digestive enzymes

• Polyphenols

• Amino acids

• Minerals

• Herbs

• Food extracts

If you do not want to purchase supplements from Viome for any reason, you can use these insights to create your personalized supplement stack.

Keep in mind 🦠

Like your mRNA, your microbiome is constantly evolving, making it unreliable at predicting health outcomes. It’s influenced by your recent dietary choices, lifestyle, and any supplements or medications you’re taking. Your microbiome provides a snapshot of your current gut health, so any long-term changes should be readjusted after regular tests for optimal results.

There is also limited scientific evidence on the microbiome's effects on human health, so it’s best to complement these insights with professional healthcare advice.

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Microbiome/comments/1fztfgi/comment/lr93lmx/)(460)

3. Personalized dietary recommendations

Source: Viome.com

Based on your test results, Viome makes dietary recommendations to improve your gut microbiome, relieve symptoms of chronic disease, and prevent future health issues. Viome takes a list of 400 foods and organizes them into four categories:

1. Superfood: Foods that are especially beneficial for your gut health and that you should eat more

2. Enjoy: Foods that are beneficial for your microbiome and that you can continue eating as usual

3. Minimize: Foods that could be harmful to your health in larger amounts that you should eat in minimal quantities

4. Avoid: Foods that could be detrimental to your health that you should avoid eating

According to Viome, by following these personalized dietary recommendations, you’ll improve nutrient uptake, stimulate beneficial gut bacteria, inhibit harmful gut bacteria, reduce inflammation, and slow biological aging. 

One issue many users note is that there are limited explanations as to why you should favor or avoid a particular food. While there are insights, they are often vague and based on the generalized benefits of those foods.

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Biohackers/comments/10vi42n/comment/l4oetnm/)(400)

4. Pricing structure

Viome is among the most expensive at-home microbiome tests and supplement providers. It’s more expensive than Zoe, Biohm, Ombre, or Floré but also the most comprehensive.

Check out the complete pricing structure in the table below:

| Bundles                     | Monthly      | Intelligence Tests               | Once-off | Supplements            | Monthly      |
|----------------------------|-------------|----------------------------------|--------|------------------------|-------------|
| Full Body<br> Health<br> Solutions | $199  | Full Body<br> Intelligence Test      | $399   | Precision<br> Supplements  | $149  |
| Gut Health<br> Solutions       | $79   | Gut Intelligence<br> Test            | $279   | Gut Biotics            | $79   |
| Oral Health<br> Solutions      | $79   | Oral Health<br> Intelligence Test    | $259   | Oral Biotic<br> Toothpaste | $79   |
| &nbsp;                     | &nbsp;      | Cancer Detect<br> & Oral Health Test | $599   | Oral Biotic<br> Lozenges   | $79

Bonus reviews:

• Siphox Health review

• DNAfit review

• CircleDNA review

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5. Viome reviews: Customer satisfaction and user ratings

Viome is listed as an Accredited Business on Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ score. However, it has a 1.47/5-star rating based on 30+ customer reviews. It has also had 35+ complaints closed in the last three years.

On Trustpilot, Viome is rated as “Poor” with 2.4 out of 5 stars based on 1,300+ reviews, 35% of which give 1-star ratings.

On Reddit, users share mixed opinions. Many cite positive experiences in resolving issues like bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other gastrointestinal problems. 

Still, some users claim they’ve experienced little to no beneficial results and mention other issues related to delayed test results and rejected samples, which could explain the low user ratings online. 

[Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Microbiome/comments/mk1tie/comment/hezntj9/)(480)

Overview of pros and cons

Here’s a quick summary of the main advantages and disadvantages of Viome to help you make an informed decision:

| Viome Pros                                           | Viome Cons                                                                  |
| ---------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Comprehensive at-home tests                          | Expensive compared to competitors                                           |
| Personalized dietary and<br> supplementation suggestions | Limited long-term health insights                                           |
| Provides over 50 health scores                       | Limited explanations around results                                         |
| Has a user-friendly app                              | Mixed customer reviews                                                      |
| Updates results based on<br> new research                | No follow-up with a medical<br> professional to help you understand<br> the results

Takeaway: Are Viome’s tests backed by science?

Source: Viome.com

The current research on gut microbiome and its effects on health is promising but conflicting and limited.

To back its claims, Viome has published a study showing that its personalized food and supplementation guidelines have helped people achieve the following improvements:

• 36% in severe cases of depression

• 40% in severe cases of anxiety

• 38% in severe cases of IBS

• 30% in the type-2 diabetes risk score

Still, this study is funded by the company, as is the case with many other Viome studies. All authors are Viome’s employees, and the research has not been peer-reviewed. Considering the conflict of interest, these results should be taken with a grain of salt.

Also, your microbiome and mRNA data are dynamic, changing in response to your diet, stress, medication, and lifestyle choices. This makes tests based on these metrics limited for long-term health planning and dietary changes, requiring costly regular retesting. 

In contrast, DNA remains constant throughout your life, making it much more reliable for creating long-term strategies. Nucleus’ DNA Platform requires a one-time test to decode your entire genome, offering insights into genetic predisposition for 800+ diseases, 9+ personal traits, and dietary recommendations. Learn how to get yours below for a more data-driven approach to health optimization.

[X](https://x.com/melanter/status/1782094104068862183)(630)

Nucleus at-home DNA test: Reliable, data-driven health insights

Nucleus is a physician-approved, clinical-grade DNA platform that offers actionable health insights based on your genetic code. Unlike mRNA-based tests, Nucleus uses whole-genome sequencing to analyze almost all 6 billion of your DNA bases, uncovering reliable, life-long health insights. 

With a one-time $399 at-home DNA test, you gain access to detailed health reports, including:

• Genetic risk for 800+ conditions, including cancer, heart disease, mental health, ADHD, autoimmune conditions, and more

• Rare and high-effect gene variations that most consumer-grade tests overlook

• Personal traits like muscle strength, intelligence, BMI, longevity, and more

• Genetic counseling with board-certified genetic experts through SteadyMD

• Dietary and supplementation recommendations based on your ancestry, personal traits, and lifestyle

[X](https://x.com/nucleusgenomics/status/1787890704640860584)(780)

Nucleus integrates your DNA profile with non-genetic factors like lifestyle and age, creating personalized risk scores and a tailored approach to health optimization. With a $39 yearly membership (optional), you’ll also get regular report updates based on emerging DNA research and changes in your lifestyle.

Nucleus is also HIPAA-compliant and CAP/CLIA-certified, ensuring the accuracy and privacy of your data. It processes all your samples in U.S. labs.

How to order Nucleus

Getting started with Nucleus is simple:

1. Sign up for Nucleus Premium

2. Provide your personal information

3. Place the order

Once you collect your cheek swabs, mail them back using the pre-labeled return envelope and expect your results in 6–8 weeks. Nucleus is also HSA/FSA eligible, which means it can qualify as a reimbursable medical expense, making it a more affordable option.

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Featured image: Viome.com