A method for increasing gastric tract acid (GTA) production in a mammalian subject. The method comprises administering a therapeutically-effective amount of a composition comprising at least one liveor attenuated culture of a microbial species selected from the
genus Blautia, species
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii,
genus Bacteroides, family Ruminococcaceae, family Lachnospiraceae,
genus Coprococcus, genus
Roseburia, genus Oscillospira, species Ruminococcus bromii, genus Ruminococcus, family Costridiaceae, species Dorea formicigenerans, species
Bacteroides uniformis, genus Dorea,
genus Streptococcus, order
Clostridiales, genus Anaerostipes, genus Dialister, species
Bifidobacterium adolescentis, family Coriobacteriaceae, genus Faecalibacterium, genus Sutterella, species
Bacteroides ovatus, genus Parabacteroides, genus Ruminococcus, species Bacteroides faecis, species
Eubacterium biforme, genus Phascolartobacterium, and
family Enterobacteriaceae; or a
prebiotic composition which increasesgrowth and / or viability of said microbial species in the gut. Administering the composition increases the synthesis of at least one GTA dicarboxylic
fatty acid metabolite in said subject. Also described are method for determining
gastrointestinal inflammation status and kits for detecting and treating a gastric tract acid (GTA) insufficiency.