Stomach pain: causes, warning signs, and what helps in everyday life
ca. 25 Minuten
Key points
Stomach pain is discomfort in the upper abdomen, usually caused by an irritated or inflamed stomach lining, an ulcer, reflux disease, or an irritable stomach. According to the IQWiG (2025), the most common causes of gastritis are infection with Helicobacter Pylori or regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers.
Four observations are key to assessing the symptoms: exactly where the pain is located, when it occurs, what other symptoms accompany it, and how long it has been present. This article covers the most common causes, explains the differences between gastritis, stomach ulcers, and an irritable stomach, and identifies the warning signs that need medical attention.
If you’re short on time: The warning signs and emergency call guidance are in Chapter 3 and covered in detail in Chapter 6. The differences between the three most common symptom patterns are in Chapter 5, and everyday measures are in Chapter 7. Chapters 8 and 9 explain honestly when gut microbiome analysis can actually contribute something – and when it cannot.
What to expect in this article
1. What is stomach pain – and exactly where is it located?
2. What are the most common causes?
3. How can you assess your symptoms yourself?
4. Which common assumptions about stomach pain are wrong?
5. Gastritis, an ulcer, or an irritable stomach – how can you tell the difference?
6. Which warning signs need immediate medical attention?
7. What can help with recurring stomach pain in everyday life?
8. When is gut microbiome analysis useful – and when isn’t it?
9. Putting it in context: What a self-test for stomach pain cannot tell you
10. Conclusion
Frequently asked questions
Sources
What is stomach pain – and exactly where is it located?
Stomach pain is pain in the upper abdomen, the area between the lower rib cage and the navel. The stomach itself is not centered behind the navel, but lies higher up and more toward the left side of the body.
This location explains why describing where the pain is during a doctor’s appointment is so valuable. According to the IQWiG (2025), symptoms of a stomach ulcer typically occur “in the middle to left side of the upper abdomen” – a location clearly distinct from lower abdominal discomfort.
Upper abdomen, navel, breastbone: three regions, three meanings
A burning sensation that travels upward points to something different from a dull pressure that stays in one place. According to the IQWiG (2024), with reflux disease the burning “radiates upward from the upper abdomen or the area behind the breastbone toward the throat.”
Symptoms clearly located below the navel and accompanied by changes in bowel movements are more likely to be related to intestinal problems. The IQWiG (2023) describes irritable bowel syndrome as “persistent abdominal or lower abdominal pain, cramps, and changes in bowel movements.”
Why the quality of pain reveals as much as its location
People describe stomach pain in very different ways: as burning, pressure, cramping, or pulling. IQWiG (2025) specifically lists two different symptom patterns for irritable stomach syndrome: “feeling full prematurely while eating or feeling full after eating,” and “pain or a burning sensation in the upper abdomen.”
Being able to describe the quality of your pain gives your doctor a genuine clue, rather than treating every twinge in your abdomen as a stomach problem.
Accompanying symptoms are part of the picture
Stomach pain rarely occurs on its own. For acute inflammation of the stomach lining, IQWiG (2025) lists “stomach pain, feeling of fullness, bloating, heartburn, nausea, sometimes with vomiting, belching, loss of appetite, distended abdomen.”
According to IQWiG (2024), reflux disease can also cause “a strong feeling of fullness, sometimes also nausea and the urge to vomit.” Any accompanying symptoms you experience should therefore be part of your preparation for the doctor’s appointment.
Key point: Stomach pain is upper abdominal discomfort. Its location, quality, accompanying symptoms, and duration together form a pattern that helps a doctor make an assessment.
What are the most common underlying causes?
Four conditions are the main causes of recurring stomach pain: inflammation of the stomach lining, stomach or duodenal ulcers, reflux disease, and irritable stomach syndrome.
Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
The stomach lining is the protective layer between the stomach contents and the stomach wall. IQWiG (2025) describes it as follows: “The stomach lining protects the stomach wall from acid and pathogens. If this protective lining becomes irritated or damaged, it can become inflamed.”
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“In most cases, inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis) is caused by an infection with the bacterium Helicobacter Pylori or the regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers.”
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG)
“Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis),” gesundheitsinformation.de, 2025
In addition to these two main causes, IQWiG (2025) names another trigger: “Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause acute gastritis.” This identifies three factors that can genuinely be influenced in everyday life or investigated by a doctor.
Stomach and duodenal ulcers
The causes of stomach and duodenal ulcers are the same. According to IQWiG (2025), “the most common causes are a bacterial infection with the pathogen Helicobacter Pylori or the regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers.”
According to IQWiG (2025), around 1 to 2 in 100 people aged 18 to 29 develop an ulcer; from age 45 onward, 8 to 10 in 100 women and 9 to 14 in 100 men develop one. The risk therefore increases significantly with age.
Reflux disease and heartburn
Not every burning sensation in the upper abdomen is a disease. IQWiG (2024) makes this distinction: “Reflux disease causes very frequent or severe heartburn.” Occasional heartburn, then, does not automatically count as reflux disease.
According to IQWiG (2024), up to 25 in 100 people in Western countries repeatedly experience symptoms such as heartburn or belching. Reflux is therefore one of the most common types of upper abdominal complaints.
Functional dyspepsia
Sometimes, no organic cause is found despite an evaluation. IQWiG (2025) defines it as follows: “With functional dyspepsia, also known as an irritable stomach, symptoms occur in the upper abdomen over a period of months and cannot be explained by organic causes.”
According to IQWiG (2025), around 10 to 15% of adults in Germany have functional dyspepsia. Younger people are affected too: according to the same source, between 10 and 20% of children “complain of typical symptoms that last longer or recur.”
The order matters: A diagnosis of functional dyspepsia is only considered once, according to IQWiG (2025), “other causes of the symptoms have been investigated and ruled out.” So the diagnosis comes at the end of the evaluation, not the beginning.
How would you describe your symptoms?
Four observations can help you make sense of it: location, timing, accompanying symptoms, and duration. They don’t replace a diagnosis - they turn a vague feeling into something you can describe.
Where exactly is the pain?
Upper middle or left abdomen, behind the breastbone, or below the navel? Point to the spot with one finger.
When does it occur?
On an empty stomach, immediately after eating, at night, or regardless of meals? The timing is an important clue.
What other symptoms are there?
Nausea, vomiting, heartburn, feeling full, loss of appetite - or warning signs such as blood in your stool, fever, and weight loss?
How long has this been going on?
For hours, days, or recurring over months? How long it lasts also determines how urgent it is.
The second question is particularly revealing because it distinguishes stomach ulcers from duodenal ulcers. According to IQWiG (2025), symptoms of duodenal ulcers “tend to occur on an empty stomach and ease after eating,” whereas symptoms of stomach ulcers “can occur immediately after eating, but also independently of meals.”
This is exactly where this article deliberately differs from its companion articles: It covers stomach pain regardless of meals – its location, timing, duration, and warning signs. If your symptoms regularly begin right after a meal, Stomach Pain After Eating is the more suitable article; if nausea is your main concern, you’ll find guidance in Nausea After Eating.
These signs should be checked by a doctor – not in a self-test
- ✓ Significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever, or pallor – IQWiG (2023) explicitly lists these signs as indicators of another bowel disease.
- ✓ Black stools or vomiting blood – “red or black vomit” is listed by IQWiG (2025) as a warning sign of ulcer complications.
- ✓ Signs of anemia – “Fatigue, dizziness, pallor, or shortness of breath during physical exertion” (IQWiG, 2025).
- ✓ Sudden, severe abdominal pain – IQWiG (2025) says to “call emergency services on 112 immediately.”
Which common assumptions about stomach pain are wrong?
Two assumptions are particularly persistent – and both lead people to wait too long. The first concerns the cause of ulcers, the second the seeming harmlessness of over-the-counter painkillers.
The difference matters in practice: A Helicobacter pylori infection can be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. If you attribute your symptoms solely to stress, you delay precisely this evaluation – often by months.
The key word here is “regularly.” This isn’t about taking a single tablet for a headache, but about taking them long-term or frequently, as can happen with chronic pain. If you take these medications over an extended period and develop stomach pain, you should discuss it with a doctor instead of continuing to adjust your dose on your own.
Gastritis, ulcers, or an irritable stomach – how can you tell the difference?
The three conditions can only be distinguished with certainty by a doctor. But there are patterns that can be described - and that can help you organize your observations. The following overview compares the three most common conditions using the same five criteria.
| Criterion | Gastritis | Stomach/duodenal ulcer | Functional dyspepsia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where is the pain typically located? | In the stomach area, accompanied by a feeling of fullness and heartburn (IQWiG, 2025) | With a stomach ulcer, “in the middle to left upper abdomen” (IQWiG, 2025) | In the upper abdomen, as pain or a burning sensation (IQWiG, 2025) |
| When does it occur? | No specific timing pattern is given in the material reviewed; symptoms occur as a cluster (IQWiG, 2025) | Stomach ulcer: “right after eating, but also independently of meals”; duodenal ulcer: “more likely on an empty stomach” (IQWiG, 2025) | “Early satiety while eating or feeling full after a meal” (IQWiG, 2025) |
| Most common cause | Helicobacter pylori infection or regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers (IQWiG, 2025) | The same two main causes (IQWiG, 2025) | No physical cause explains the symptoms (IQWiG, 2025) |
| Typical accompanying symptoms | “Feeling of fullness, bloating, heartburn, nausea, sometimes with vomiting, belching, loss of appetite, bloated abdomen” (IQWiG, 2025) | Warning signs of complications: black stools, vomiting blood, signs of anemia (IQWiG, 2025) | Also possible: “nausea and feeling unwell” (IQWiG, 2025) |
| How long have the symptoms been present? | IQWiG (2025) describes the symptoms of acute gastritis as a distinct condition | No specific timeframe is given in the material reviewed; warning signs are the key factor (IQWiG, 2025) | Symptoms persist “for months” (IQWiG, 2025) |
Why the timing pattern is the strongest clue
The “When does it occur?” row most clearly distinguishes the three conditions. According to IQWiG (2025), pain that occurs on an empty stomach and eases after eating is more consistent with a duodenal ulcer than with a stomach ulcer.
With functional dyspepsia, by contrast, early satiety is often the main symptom: the stomach feels full after only a small portion. You can observe this without any equipment, too.
Prevalence helps put things in perspective, but it cannot replace a diagnosis
Functional dyspepsia is the most common of the three conditions: according to IQWiG (2025), it affects 10 to 15% of adults in Germany. Ulcers are less common, but become significantly more prevalent with age - from 1 to 2 out of 100 people aged 18 to 29 to 8 to 10 out of 100 women and 9 to 14 out of 100 men aged 45 and over (IQWiG, 2025).
These figures tell us something about probabilities, not about your individual case: according to IQWiG (2025), functional dyspepsia should only be assumed once “other causes of the symptoms have been investigated and ruled out.”
Key point: Gastritis, ulcers, and an irritable stomach differ mainly in the timing of symptoms and accompanying signs – but only a doctor can make the final diagnosis.
Which warning signs need immediate medical attention?
Certain accompanying signs immediately change how urgent the situation is. They are not a reason to panic, but they are always a reason to make a doctor's appointment. In one case, you should even call emergency services.
The IQWiG (2023) lists four signs that point away from a harmless functional cause: “Additional symptoms such as significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever, or paleness are more likely to indicate another bowel condition.”
Blood in the stool and black-colored stool
Blood in your stool should never be left to wait. According to the IQWiG (2023), “blood in the stool should always be examined by a doctor to determine the cause.” This applies regardless of how severe the stomach pain itself is.
For stomach and duodenal ulcers, “black-colored stool” is also a warning sign of complications, according to the IQWiG (2025). Dark stool discoloration belongs in the same category as visible blood: seek medical attention immediately.
Vomiting blood and signs of anemia
The IQWiG (2025) explicitly lists “vomiting blood (vomit that is red or black)” as a warning sign. The color matters here too: not only fresh, red blood is significant, but dark-colored vomit as well.
Prolonged, unnoticed blood loss often shows up indirectly. The IQWiG (2025) lists “fatigue, dizziness, paleness, or shortness of breath during physical exertion” as “signs of anemia.” If you notice any of these signs along with stomach pain, you should contact a doctor's office promptly.
They are not a reason to panic, but they are always a reason to make a doctor's appointment.
Sudden, severe abdominal pain: Call 112
There is one situation where you should not wait: according to the IQWiG (2025), if you have sudden, severe abdominal pain, “call the emergency number 112 immediately.” This advice is deliberately placed at the beginning, not the end of this article, because in a pinch, hours can make all the difference.
All other warning signs mean you need an appointment, not emergency care. The difference is how quickly you should act, not how serious the issue is: both require medical assessment, and neither should be self-tested.
What can help with recurring stomach pain in everyday life?
Once a doctor has ruled out organic causes, the first steps focus on everyday habits. For an irritable stomach, the IQWiG (2025) recommends starting with “adjusting your diet, getting more exercise, and using individually tailored medication.”
Adjust your diet – without a blanket list of forbidden foods
There is no one-size-fits-all diet for stomach pain. The IQWiG (2023) puts it plainly for digestive problems: “However, how people react to certain foods varies greatly from person to person.”
Instead of following someone else's list of forbidden foods, it's more useful to keep a simple symptom diary for two to four weeks: time, meal, type of symptom, duration. This reveals a personal pattern that will be more useful in a conversation with your doctor than any general recommendation.
For basic nutrition, however, there is a clear guideline: the German Nutrition Society (DGE) recommends that adults consume at least 30 g of fiber per day (as of 2021). According to DGE (2021), “increased fiber intake has protective effects against cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, colon and breast cancer, as well as the risk of death.”
Review painkillers and alcohol critically
Two proven and modifiable everyday factors affect stomach complaints. According to IQWiG (2025), regularly taking anti-inflammatory painkillers is among the most common causes of gastritis and ulcers.
The second factor is alcohol: “Excessive alcohol consumption can also trigger acute gastritis,” writes IQWiG (2025). These are both things you can bring up yourself in a conversation with your doctor - they often make a considerable difference to the assessment.
Exercise and realistic expectations
According to IQWiG (2025), getting more exercise is explicitly one of the first steps for functional dyspepsia - this means regular physical activity in everyday life, not peak athletic performance.
At the same time, it's important to be realistic: according to IQWiG (2025), functional dyspepsia is not dangerous, but it can be distressing and last a long time. Knowing this means measuring the success of everyday measures by gradual improvement, not complete relief from symptoms.
Be wary of supplements that promise a quick fix. Regarding digestive complaints, IQWiG (2023) states: “There is no evidence that additional fiber supplements help.” A lack of evidence is not proof that they don't work - but it isn't a reason to buy them either.
In brief
For recurring stomach pain with no identifiable organic cause, IQWiG (2025) recommends three first steps: adjusting your diet, getting more exercise, and using individually tailored medication. There is no one-size-fits-all diet because, according to IQWiG (2023), reactions to foods vary considerably from person to person. That's why keeping a symptom diary for two to four weeks is more useful than following someone else's list of forbidden foods. According to IQWiG (2025), regularly taking anti-inflammatory painkillers and excessive alcohol consumption are the two proven everyday factors; by contrast, IQWiG (2023) has found no evidence that fiber supplements are beneficial.
When a gut flora analysis makes sense - and when it doesn't
One point belongs at the start, but many providers skip it: stomach pain originates in the stomach, whereas a microbiome analysis examines the gut flora using a stool sample. These are two different locations in the digestive system.
This sets a clear limit: a microbiome test cannot detect gastritis, stomach ulcers, Helicobacter pylori infection, or tumors. These questions require medical assessment—a stool test for gut flora can neither replace it nor speed it up.
Gut flora analysis is only worth considering in a specific situation: when persistent intestinal symptoms accompany your stomach complaints and a doctor has already ruled out organic causes. At that point, the goal is no longer to find the cause of the stomach complaints, but to get a picture of the gut flora as one component alongside a medical assessment.
For this purpose, mybody® (MYBODY Lab GmbH) offers two gut flora analysis options. Both involve collecting a stool sample at home and having it analyzed in an ISO-certified laboratory; data is transferred in compliance with the GDPR.
Right for you if …
… a doctor has already assessed and ruled out organic causes of your upper abdominal complaints.
… you also have persistent intestinal symptoms alongside your stomach complaints, such as changes in your stool or bloating.
… you want to support your dietary changes with a structured baseline assessment instead of experimenting blindly.
… you want to use the results as a basis for discussion with your doctor or nutritionist.
Probably not if …
… you have acute or severe stomach pain, or experience any of the warning signs in Chapter 6—seek medical advice.
… Helicobacter pylori infection or an ulcer is suspected: these cannot be diagnosed with a stool sample for gut flora.
… you expect a diagnosis—self-tests are fundamentally the wrong tool for that.
… you need a quick answer: Results take approximately 20–25 business days after the sample arrives.
The more comprehensive of the two options is the Complete test, which includes a FODMAP index and enterotype classification.
Gut Flora MICROBIOME Test Complete
The Complete test analyzes over 1,500 bacterial species using DNA sequencing and summarizes the results in a report of around 15 pages—including bacterial diversity, the balance of protective and potentially harmful microbes, indications of dysbiosis, a FODMAP index, and enterotype classification. What it explicitly does not do: it does not provide a diagnosis or detect gastritis, stomach ulcers, Helicobacter pylori infection, or tumors. It is therefore only a useful component of an assessment for stomach complaints if intestinal symptoms are also present and a doctor has ruled out organic causes.
Price: €189.00 (instead of €219.00) · Sample type: Stool sample · Processing time: approx. 20–25 business days after receipt of sample · Lab: ISO-certified laboratory analysis, ISO 27001, GDPR-compliant
Go to the Complete Microbiome TestIf you initially want only a basic picture of your gut flora, the Basic version is a more modest starting point. It covers fewer report topics, but uses the same sample type and laboratory methodology.
Gut Flora MICROBIOME Test Basic
The Basic version shows the composition of the gut flora, the balance of protective and potentially harmful bacteria, the gut environment based on pH, possible fungal colonization, and indicators of dysbiosis—in a report of around 15 pages. The same applies here: no diagnosis and no detection of inflammation of the stomach lining, an ulcer, or a Helicobacter pylori infection. It is the more affordable starting point if you first want an overview of your gut flora.
Price: €139.00 · Sample type: Stool sample · Processing time: approx. 20–25 business days after receipt of sample · Lab: ISO-certified laboratory analysis, ISO 27001
Go to the Basic Microbiome TestAll price and service details are current as of July 28, 2026. Prices and processing times may change; the relevant information is always on the respective mybody® product page (MYBODY Lab GmbH).
What a self-test cannot do for stomach pain
A self-test provides measurements, not a diagnosis. This distinction is particularly important for stomach pain, because according to IQWiG (2025), the most common causes can be identified and treated by a doctor.
No detection of infections, ulcers, or tumors
A stool microbiome analysis shows the composition of the gut flora. It does not detect a Helicobacter pylori infection, an ulcer, inflammation of the stomach lining, or a tumor—these require medical examinations.
It also cannot detect chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. IQWiG (2026) describes Crohn’s disease as a chronic inflammatory bowel disease; an estimated 320 out of every 100,000 people in Europe have Crohn’s disease, and about 3 to 6 out of every 100,000 people develop it each year. Such conditions require medical evaluation and treatment.
FODMAP guidance does not replace a supervised dietary change
The Complete test includes a FODMAP index. However, you should never undertake an elimination diet based on it on your own: According to IQWiG (2023), a low-FODMAP diet carries “the risk of malnutrition because it becomes difficult to get enough vitamins and minerals.”
For context: “It is thought that consuming FODMAPs causes more water to enter the intestine, which can promote diarrhea,” writes IQWiG (2023). This kind of dietary change should therefore be guided by a nutrition professional or your healthcare provider.
What a test result can realistically contribute
Realistically, a microbiome result is a snapshot of the gut flora and a basis for discussion. It can help structure dietary changes, but cannot replace them or predict treatment success.
The order stays the same: first, have the stomach problems checked by a doctor, then - if intestinal symptoms are also present - consider supplementary analysis.
Conclusion
Stomach pain is upper abdominal discomfort with a manageable set of common causes: gastritis, stomach or duodenal ulcers, reflux disease and functional dyspepsia. For the first two, IQWiG (2025) names the same main causes - infection with Helicobacter Pylori or regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers.
What this means for you: For four weeks, note the location, timing, associated symptoms and duration of your discomfort, and take these notes to your doctor’s office. If warning signs such as blood in the stool, black stools, vomiting blood, fever, paleness or significant weight loss occur, arrange an appointment soon; for sudden, severe abdominal pain, IQWiG (2025) advises calling emergency services at 112.
A gut microbiome analysis comes at the end of this process, not the beginning. It may be worth considering if persistent intestinal symptoms accompany the stomach problems and a doctor has ruled out organic causes - as a supplementary picture, not a diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is stomach pain felt?
Stomach pain is felt in the upper abdomen, between the lower rib cage and the navel. According to IQWiG (2025), stomach ulcers typically cause symptoms “in the middle to left upper abdomen.” A burning sensation that rises toward the throat is more suggestive of reflux, according to IQWiG (2024).
When should I have stomach pain checked by a doctor?
When warning signs appear. IQWiG (2023) lists “significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever or paleness”; for ulcers, IQWiG (2025) also mentions “black stools,” “vomiting blood (red or black-colored vomit)” and signs of anemia. For sudden, severe abdominal pain, IQWiG (2025) advises “calling emergency services immediately at 112.”
How can I tell the difference between gastritis and a stomach ulcer?
Only a doctor can reliably tell the difference. For acute gastritis, IQWiG (2025) describes a cluster of symptoms: “stomach pain, feeling of fullness, bloating, heartburn, nausea, sometimes with vomiting, belching, loss of appetite, distended abdomen.” With an ulcer, the timing is more characteristic: stomach ulcers cause symptoms “right after eating, but also independently of meals,” while duodenal ulcers cause symptoms “more often on an empty stomach” (IQWiG, 2025).
Can over-the-counter painkillers cause stomach pain?
According to IQWiG (2025), regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers is among the most common causes of both gastritis and stomach and duodenal ulcers. The key word is “regular”: this means long-term or frequent use, not a single tablet. Anyone who needs these medications over a longer period and develops stomach problems should discuss this with a doctor.
Can a microbiome test identify the cause of stomach pain?
No. A microbiome test analyzes gut flora from a stool sample, while stomach pain originates in the stomach. It cannot detect gastritis, a stomach ulcer, Helicobacter pylori infection, or a tumor, and it does not diagnose anything. It is only useful if persistent intestinal symptoms are also present and organic causes have been ruled out by a doctor.
Would you like to get a supplementary picture of your gut flora?
If organic causes have been medically ruled out and you also have intestinal symptoms, a gut flora analysis can provide a structured basis for discussion. It does not replace a medical examination—and is not intended to.
View the Complete Microbiome Test All gut tests at a glanceYou might also be interested in
→ Stomach pain after eating: causes and how to interpret them
The companion article for anyone whose symptoms regularly start right after a meal.
→ The most reliable microbiome tests for your gut flora
What matters in a gut flora analysis and how to compare providers.
→ Gut glossary: all the bacteria and markers in your gut flora
Reference guide with over 6,000 microbiome biomarkers—from protective bacteria and fiber digesters to the metrics in your report.
Sources
- IQWiG / gesundheitsinformation.de: Gastritis (2025) — gesundheitsinformation.de
- IQWiG / gesundheitsinformation.de: Stomach and duodenal ulcers (2025) — gesundheitsinformation.de
- IQWiG / gesundheitsinformation.de: Irritable stomach (functional dyspepsia) (2025) — gesundheitsinformation.de
- IQWiG / gesundheitsinformation.de: Heartburn and reflux disease (2024) — gesundheitsinformation.de
- IQWiG / gesundheitsinformation.de: Irritable bowel syndrome (2023) — gesundheitsinformation.de
- IQWiG / gesundheitsinformation.de: What helps with irritable bowel syndrome—and what doesn’t? (2023) — gesundheitsinformation.de
The definition, causes, and symptoms of gastritis—including the verbatim institute quotation—are based on [1]. Pain patterns, frequency figures, warning signs of complications, and the advice to call the emergency number 112 are from [2]. The definition, frequency, symptom types, exclusion diagnosis, and initial treatment steps for functional dyspepsia are from [3], while information on heartburn and reflux disease is from [4]. The warning signs “significant weight loss, blood in the stool, fever, or pallor” and the description of irritable bowel symptoms are from [5]; statements on FODMAPs, the risk of malnutrition, individual food reactions, and fiber supplements are from [6]. The guideline value of at least 30 g of fiber per day is from the German Nutrition Society (DGE), Reference Values for Fiber, as of 2021; information on Crohn’s disease is from the IQWiG overview “Crohn’s disease,” as of 2026. Product information comes from the mybody® product pages, accessed on July 28, 2026. All other sources cited in the text are identified at the relevant point with the institution and year.
mybody® Editorial & Specialist Team
Stomach & Upper Abdomen Gut Health Microbiome Nutritional Science
This article was written and reviewed by the mybody® editorial and specialist team. The team brings together expertise in nutrigenetics, microbiome and gut science, blood test interpretation, nutritional science, and laboratory diagnostics.
Published on July 28, 2026 · Last updated on July 28, 2026
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Persistent, severe, or recurring stomach pain should be assessed by a doctor; in the event of sudden, severe abdominal pain, call the emergency number 112. A microbiome test is not a diagnostic procedure and cannot detect gastritis, an ulcer, a Helicobacter pylori infection, or a tumor.
