7 months ago
Mouth Bacteria Predict Chronic Liver Disease Risk
Scientists found that the bacteria in your mouth can change as liver disease gets worse.
They looked at saliva and poop samples from people with liver problems.
They discovered that the bacteria in the mouth and gut become more alike as the disease progresses.
Some mouth bacteria move to the gut and can damage the gut's protective barrier.
This damage might let harmful things reach the liver and make the disease worse.
The researchers think that by targeting these mouth bacteria, they might be able to help people with liver disease feel better and slow down the progression of the disease.
Mouth bacteria can predict the risk of chronic liver disease, according to a study published in Nature Microbiology.
Researchers analyzed bacterial populations in saliva and stool samples from 86 patients with liver disease.
As liver disease worsens, the oral and gut microbiomes become increasingly similar, with identical bacterial strains found in both.
Certain oral bacteria colonize the gut and are associated with damage to the intestinal barrier, potentially worsening liver disease.
The findings suggest that targeting the oral microbiome could offer new therapeutic strategies for advanced chronic liver disease.
- Who
- Researchers from the Technical University of Munich and King's College London
- What
- Study on the relationship between mouth bacteria and chronic liver disease
- Where
- Conducted in Germany and analyzed at King's College London
- When
- Published in the journal Nature Microbiology
- Why
- To understand how mouth bacteria affect gut health and predict liver disease risk
Key facts
- Study Journal
- Nature Microbiology
- Research Team
- Technical University of Munich, Germany
- Sample Size
- 86 patients
- Key Finding
- Oral and gut microbiomes become similar in liver disease
- Potential Treatment
- Targeting oral microbiome to influence disease course
Quotes
Melanie Schirmer
Professor of Translational Microbiome Data Integration at the Technical University of Munich
“These strains are typically found in the mouth and are rarely present in the healthy gut. However, we observed increases in the absolute abundances of these oral bacteria in patients with advanced chronic liver disease.”
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“This strongly suggests that these bacteria translocate from the mouth and colonise the gut.”
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Aurelie Cenier
Doctoral researcher and co-first author of the study
“Collagen breakdown can compromise the gut barrier, potentially allowing bacteria and bacterial products to reach other organs, such as the liver. We believe this may worsen the disease.”
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Dr. Vishal Patel
Researcher from King's College London
“Our findings open potential new therapeutic strategies for people with advanced chronic liver disease. Protecting or restoring the gut barrier could help slow disease progression. Targeting the oral microbiome offers a way to positively influence the course of the disease and prevent clinical complications.”
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