Association between dietary patterns and bacterial vaginosis: a case-control study.

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Nutritional Science
• Microbiome Research

Background:

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects approximately 25% of women of reproductive age, representing a significant public health concern.
• Dietary patterns are increasingly recognized as potential modulators of the vaginal microbiome and contributors to imbalances like BV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between distinct dietary patterns and the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV).
• To identify specific dietary habits that may increase or decrease the risk of developing BV.

Main Methods:

• A hospital-based case-control study involving 144 BV cases and 151 healthy controls in Tehran, Iran.
• Dietary intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and factor analysis identified principal dietary patterns.
• Vaginal flora was characterized using Amsel criteria, and logistic regression analyzed the association between dietary patterns and BV.

Main Results:

• An "Unhealthy diet" pattern showed a significant positive association with BV (aOR = 3.35; 95% CI: 1.41–7.94).
• Adherence to an "Ovo-vegetarian diet" pattern was significantly associated with reduced odds of BV (aOR = 0.16; 95% CI: 0.07–0.34).
• Five distinct dietary patterns were identified: "Healthy diet," "Unhealthy diet," "Ovo-vegetarian diet," "Pseudo-Mediterranean diet," and "Western diet."

Conclusions:

• Dietary habits play a crucial role in the development of bacterial vaginosis.
• Adopting an "unhealthy diet" pattern is linked to an increased risk of BV.
• Plant-based dietary patterns, such as the "Ovo-vegetarian diet," may offer a protective effect against BV.