---
title: "Dysbiosis Definition & Meaning | infoMD Health Glossary"
description: "Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the composition or function of the microbial communities (microbiome) that live in and on your body - most commonly ref"
lang: en
json-ld: |
  [
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "DefinedTerm",
      "name": "Dysbiosis",
      "description": "Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the composition or function of the microbial communities (microbiome) that live in and on your body - most commonly referring to the gut microbiome, which contains trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms in the digestive tract. In a healthy state, beneficial microbes outnumber and keep potentially harmful microbes in check. Dysbiosis occurs when this balance is disrupted, allowing harmful species to proliferate or reducing the diversity of beneficial species.",
      "inDefinedTermSet": {
        "@type": "DefinedTermSet",
        "name": "infoMD Health Glossary",
        "url": "https://infomd.com/glossary"
      },
      "url": "https://infomd.com/glossary/dysbiosis"
    },
    {
      "@context": "https://schema.org",
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "Home",
          "item": "https://infomd.com"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Glossary",
          "item": "https://infomd.com/glossary"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Dysbiosis",
          "item": "https://infomd.com/glossary/dysbiosis"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
---

[Skip to main content](#main-content)

[![infoMD](/assets/infomd-logo-CtvTblFD.png)](/)

[Home](/)

[Conditions](/conditions)

[Glossary](/glossary)[Shop](/shop)

1.  [Home](/)
2.  [Glossary](/glossary)
3.  Dysbiosis 

[Digestive](/glossary?system=Digestive)

# Dysbiosis

dys·bi·o·sis - dis-by-OH-sis

## Definition

Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the composition or function of the microbial communities (microbiome) that live in and on your body - most commonly referring to the [gut microbiome](/glossary/microbiome), which contains trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms in the digestive tract. In a healthy state, beneficial microbes outnumber and keep potentially harmful microbes in check. Dysbiosis occurs when this balance is disrupted, allowing harmful species to proliferate or reducing the diversity of beneficial species.

The gut microbiome plays critical roles far beyond digestion. It produces vitamins (K, B12, biotin), trains the immune system, maintains the intestinal barrier, produces [neurotransmitters](/glossary/neurotransmitter) (including about 90% of the body's [serotonin](/glossary/serotonin)), metabolizes drugs and dietary compounds, and communicates with the brain through the gut-brain axis. When dysbiosis disrupts these functions, the effects can extend far beyond the digestive system.

Common causes of dysbiosis include antibiotic use (which can indiscriminately kill [beneficial bacteria](/glossary/probiotics) alongside harmful ones), a diet high in processed foods and low in fiber, chronic stress, excessive alcohol consumption, infections, and certain medications like proton pump inhibitors. The consequences can range from digestive symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and constipation to systemic effects including [inflammation](/glossary/inflammation), weakened immunity, and even mood disturbances.

## Also Known As

Microbial imbalance Gut dysbiosis 

## Key Facts

-   • The gut microbiome contains approximately 100 trillion microorganisms - roughly as many cells as the entire human body. 
-   • Antibiotic use is one of the most common causes of dysbiosis, as broad-spectrum antibiotics kill beneficial bacteria alongside pathogens. 
-   • A diet low in fiber starves beneficial gut bacteria, which ferment fiber to produce short-chain fatty acids critical for gut health. 
-   • Dysbiosis has been linked to conditions including IBS, IBD, obesity, type 2 diabetes, allergies, depression, and autoimmune diseases. 
-   • Microbiome diversity - having many different species - is generally associated with better health outcomes. 

## How It Relates To Your Health

Dysbiosis is increasingly recognized as a contributing factor in many chronic diseases. If you experience persistent digestive symptoms, unexplained immune issues, or mood changes - especially following antibiotic use or significant dietary changes - your healthcare provider may consider dysbiosis as a contributing factor. Testing options include stool analysis (comprehensive digestive stool analysis or 16S rRNA sequencing) that can characterize your [gut microbiome](/glossary/microbiome) composition.

Restoring microbial balance typically involves dietary changes (increasing fiber, fermented foods, and plant diversity), potentially using [probiotics](/glossary/probiotics) or prebiotics, reducing unnecessary antibiotic use, managing stress, and in some cases, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for severe conditions like recurrent C. difficile infection.

## Related Terms

[Microbiome](/glossary/microbiome)[Gut Flora](/glossary/gut-flora)[Probiotics](/glossary/probiotics)[Leaky Gut](/glossary/leaky-gut)[Serotonin](/glossary/serotonin)

## Related Articles

[![How Gut Health Affects Your Mood](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1512621776951-a57141f2eefd?w=1200&h=630&fit=crop&fm=webp)](/mental-health/gut-health-affects-mood)

[](/mental-health/gut-health-affects-mood)[Mental Health](/mental-health)

### How Gut Health Affects Your Mood

2025-11-10

## Sources

1.  [Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota in Disease](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4315779/) - National Library of Medicine
2.  [Gut microbiome](https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/) - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
3.  [What Is Dysbiosis?](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/dysbiosis) - Cleveland Clinic

Was this definition helpful?

In This Entry

[Definition](#definition)[Also Known As](#also-known-as)[Key Facts](#key-facts)[How It Relates To Your Health](#health-relevance)[Related Terms](#related-terms)[Related Articles](#related-articles)[Sources](#sources)

Browse Digestive Terms

[Irritable Bowel Syndrome](/glossary/irritable-bowel-syndrome)[Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease](/glossary/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease)[Microbiome](/glossary/microbiome)[Peristalsis](/glossary/peristalsis)[Leaky Gut Syndrome](/glossary/leaky-gut-syndrome)[Detoxification](/glossary/detoxification)

Advertisement 

#### Explore

-   [Condition Library](/conditions)
-   [Health Glossary](/glossary)
-   [Shop](/shop)

#### Body Systems

-   [Cardiovascular](/conditions/body-system/cardiovascular)
-   [Digestive](/conditions/body-system/digestive)
-   [Neurological](/conditions/body-system/neurological)
-   [Respiratory](/conditions/body-system/respiratory)
-   [Musculoskeletal](/conditions/body-system/musculoskeletal)
-   [Endocrine](/conditions/body-system/endocrine)
-   [Immune System](/conditions/body-system/immune-system)
-   [Mental Health](/conditions/body-system/mental-health)
-   [Skin](/conditions/body-system/skin)

#### Company

-   [About infoMD](/about)
-   [Contact Us](/contact)
-   [844-357-3601](tel:+18443573601)

#### Legal

-   [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)
-   [Terms of Use](/terms-of-use)
-   [Disclaimer](/disclaimer)
-   [Cookie Policy](/cookie-policy)
-   [Accessibility](/accessibility)

© 2026 infoMD LLC. All rights reserved. For informational purposes only. See our [Disclaimer](/disclaimer).

[About](/about)[Contact](/contact)[Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)[Terms of Use](/terms-of-use)