Have you ever wondered what's really happening inside your cells? Your Viome microbiome tests reveal personalized insights into your gut, cellular, and oral functioning. Our health scores provide a comprehensive overview of different aspects of your body’s wellness through the lens of your unique biology.
Your Viome Cellular Energy and Efficiency Score offers a window into your body's inner workings, helping you understand how well your cellular machinery is running. Let's examine what this score means and why it matters for your health.
Why measure cellular health?
Think of your cells as tiny power plants, each one working around the clock to keep you healthy and energized. When you get your Cellular Energy Score, we're essentially checking how well these power plants are running. Are they producing clean energy efficiently? Are they keeping up with repairs? Are they handling stress well?
Your score comes from an incredible process where we analyze millions of data points from your blood sample. This gives us a detailed picture of your cellular health – from how your cells are aging to how they're handling daily stress.
Understanding cellular energy production and oxidative stress
To truly understand your Cellular Energy Score, it's helpful to know what's happening at the microscopic level inside your cells. Your cells are constantly working to produce energy through cellular respiration, which occurs in specialized structures called mitochondria. However, this vital process isn't without its challenges.
The science behind cellular energy
When your cells produce energy, they convert glucose and oxygen into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the molecule cells use for energy. This process, while essential, naturally creates what scientists call a "pro-oxidant state." Here's why this matters:
- During energy production, some oxygen molecules don't get fully processed, leading to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) - essentially unstable molecules that can cause damage
- These ROS, or free radicals, contain unpaired electrons that make them highly reactive
- In their quest for stability, they can damage important cellular structures like membranes, proteins, and even DNA
- Over time, this oxidative damage can contribute to inflammation, accelerated aging, and various health conditions
The role of antioxidants in cellular health
Your body has natural defense mechanisms against oxidative stress, but it often needs support. This is where antioxidants come in:
- Antioxidants are molecules that can safely neutralize free radicals by donating electrons without becoming unstable themselves
- Polyphenols, found in foods like berries, tea, and dark chocolate, are particularly powerful antioxidants that:
- Directly neutralize free radicals
- Support your body's own antioxidant defense systems
- Help reduce inflammation
- Protect cellular structures and improve mitochondrial function
Creating your Viome Health Scores
Your unique biochemistry tells an important story about your health. Using advanced AI technology, Viome analyzes over 10 million data points from your oral, gut, and human cell samples to create comprehensive health scores that guide your personalized nutrition and supplement recommendations. These scores reflect how your body's systems impact your overall wellness, drawing from thousands of scientific pathways and peer-reviewed research.
Here's how we transform your Viome test samples into actionable health insights:
Sample Analysis: We sequence your biological samples to start your health story
Molecular Translation: We convert your molecular data into meaningful biological functions
Clinical Alignment: We map these functions to relevant health indicators
Score Creation: We generate your personalized Integrative Health Scores
Cellular Energy and Efficiency Score
Your Cellular Energy and Efficiency Score is designed to give you individualized insights to help you boost stamina and improve your endurance. It reveals what is happening in your body on a cellular level, including how your cells are aging and responding to stress. This score is available with our Full Body Intelligence
What we report on:
- Aging of your cells
- Cellular stress
- Cellular inflammation
- Mitochondrial health
What will I learn about cellular function?
Using a sample of your blood, we can assess what microbial byproducts are and their effects on your human cells. This gives us a clear picture of your circulating inflammation, the health of your mitochondria (the powerhouses of the cell), indications of oxidative stress levels, and even how combined they play a part in your biological aging.
We can also see several other factors contributing to your overall health landscape, such as how your current diet either aids or harms your ability to heal and regenerate. In some cases, we can even see certain dietary deficiencies, such as your vitamin D status or whether you may benefit from an increase in fiber to help boost the health of your intestinal lining.
Viome comprehensively analyzes your microbiome and tests your reactions to 370+ foods, telling you exactly what to eat and avoid. Your Viome nutrition recommendations are designed to kickstart your cellular health support processes.
What does a Not Optimal score mean:
Don't worry—this isn't a failing grade! A "Not Optimal" score simply means your cellular systems could use some support. It means that cells are not functioning optimally, resulting in accelerated aging and poor metabolic, cardiovascular, and brain health. Your cells could be stressed due to oxidative stress, inflammation, or environmental toxins.
It's like getting a check engine light that helps you catch potential issues early. Your cells might be:
- Working harder than they need to for energy production
- Dealing with more stress than usual
- Needing extra support for DNA repair and maintenance
- Running into some roadblocks with metabolic waste cleanup
To improve this score, Viome may recommend antioxidants or anti-inflammatory food and supplements, sufficient hydration, polyphenols to neutralize free radicals, and supplements that act with other substances or cofactors to influence these pathways.
What does a Good score mean:
A "Good" score can mean your cellular systems are working well. Your cells are:
- Producing energy efficiently to sustain your needs
- Managing stress and meeting physiological needs
- Keeping up with regular maintenance
- Effectively handling cleanup of cellular waste products (such as free radicals)
To improve or maintain this score, follow your Viome personalized recommendations designed to strategically target your nutritional gaps to influence and improve cellular health.* Take charge of your health by regularly reviewing your Viome scores and making the necessary adjustments to your lifestyle and diet.
Cellular health impacts energy for everyday life
The human body is composed of trillions of cells that provide structure for the body, converting nutrients into energy and carrying out specialized functions. Inflammation from the activities of your gut microbiome and oral microbiome can be problematic for your cells.
When cells lack the nutrition they need, they can't keep up with the body's metabolic demands, which leads to a loss of function and is the earliest measurable indicator of aging and health decline. Without proper nutrition, your cells and body can't function properly or produce energy efficiently over time, your metabolism slows, your body ages faster, and illness may occur.
Healthy cells are the foundation of your overall well-being
Mitochondria are considered the powerhouse of the cell, supplying energy for essential cellular functions like caring for and repairing cells in the body. Each cell contains hundreds to thousands of mitochondria with their own DNA, known as mitochondrial DNA. In addition to analyzing microbial and human gene expression, Viome also analyzes gene expression from your mitochondria.
Healthy cells mean a healthier you. They are the foundation of your overall well-being, powering everything your body does. When your cells are working efficiently, you'll experience steady energy that lasts throughout your day rather than dealing with crashes and fatigue. This cellular efficiency also helps your body bounce back more quickly from stress and exercise, maintains a healthy metabolism, and supports your body's natural aging process. Simply put, when your cells thrive, you thrive.
Stay on track with the Viome
Your Cellular Energy Efficiency Score is one of the many Viome scores that work systemically as your health compass, guiding you toward optimal wellness. To make the most of these insights, test regularly, follow your personalized recommendations, and make healthy lifestyle choices. Remember, you're not just looking at numbers—you're gaining insights into your body's fundamental processes that can be tailored to fit your lifestyle.
Your cells work hard for you daily, and we're here to help you support them. Understanding your Viome health scores is a powerful step towards taking control of your health. To learn more, connect with our community through weekly chats and virtual open houses, or contact our Customer Experience team for personalized guidance. We can help you take positive steps toward better health and keep you feeling your best.
