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Simulations of your gut may predict which probiotics will stick

Tests of “digital gut” simulations hint at personalized probiotics but not a cure‑all yet

An illustration shows three scientists, one with an oversized magnifying glass. examining a large diagram of a human intestine filled with colorful microbes.

What counts as “good” bacteria depends on the individual and the environment.

Malte Mueller/Getty Images

By Nora Bradford

Figuring out which bacteria or other nutrients your gut needs may one day be as simple as running detailed computer simulations.

From pills to yogurts to sodas, probiotics are being repackaged and marketed to us more and more, with the promise of boosting our “gut health.”