A recent study led by Penn State biologists has found that lifestyle can influence the composition of beneficial bacteria and microorganisms within the mouth, known as the “oral microbiome.” The team explored how the oral microbiome differs across various subsistence strategies, from nomadic hunter gatherers to farmers to industrialized groups. Results indicate that lifestyle, as well as specific factors like smoking, can have a significant impact on the oral microbiome. The findings, published in the journal Microbiome, highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy oral microbiome, which plays a role in digestion, immune support, and protection against pathogens.
The study focused on 63 Nepali individuals with diverse dietary practices, examining how major lifestyle factors like subsistence strategy and specific behaviors such as smoking could contribute to differences in the oral microbiomes across populations. The researchers wanted to gain a global understanding of how lifestyle affects the diversity and composition of the oral microbiome and ultimately impacts human health. By studying individuals from different lifestyles within the same country, the team aimed to eliminate geographical influences and provide a more comprehensive view of the relationship between lifestyle and the oral microbiome.
The researchers analyzed the oral microbiomes of individuals from various subsistence strategies, including foragers, subsistence farmers, agriculturalists, and industrialists. They found that the composition of bacteria in the oral microbiome followed a gradient based on subsistence strategies, with specific species more prevalent in certain groups. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet preferences, and the consumption of certain plants like nettle were also associated with specific species of microbes within the oral microbiome. These findings further support the idea that lifestyle choices can impact the oral microbiome across different populations.
The presence of certain microbes in the oral microbiome was linked to lifestyle factors, suggesting that factors like smoking habits, dietary preferences, and cultural practices can influence the oral microbiome. For example, the researchers observed associations between the type of grains consumed in an individual’s diet, smoking habits, and the consumption of nettle with specific species of bacteria in the oral microbiome. This highlights the importance of considering lifestyle factors and behaviors in future microbiome studies, as well as including diverse populations from around the world to better understand the impact of lifestyle on the oral microbiome.
The team emphasized the need to continue investigating how lifestyle influences oral microbiomes globally, as changes in diet, location, and culture can lead to shifts in the microbiome. Understanding how quickly and to what extent these changes occur is crucial for improving our knowledge of the oral microbiome and its implications for human health. By studying populations in Nepal, the researchers were able to explore the effects of lifestyle while controlling for other factors like geography that often cloud the impact of lifestyle on the microbiome. This study underscores the importance of lifestyle in shaping the oral microbiome and its relationship to overall health.
In addition to researchers from Penn State, the study involved collaborators from New York University Abu Dhabi, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Stanford University, and various institutions in Nepal. Funding from the National Institutes of Health, Stanford University, and New York University Abu Dhabi supported the research, contributing to our understanding of how lifestyle factors influence the oral microbiome and human health outcomes. Further research in this area will help elucidate the impact of lifestyle on the oral microbiome and guide future advancements in personalized healthcare and disease prevention.