Association Between Healthy Eating Index-2020 and Oral Microbiome Among Postmenopausal Women

Area of Science:

• Oral microbiome research
• Nutritional science
• Microbiome and diet interactions

Background:

• Dietary intake is linked to the oral microbiome.
• No prior studies have investigated overall diet quality's impact on the oral microbiome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020) and oral microbiome diversity and composition.
• To analyze these associations in postmenopausal women from the OsteoPerio Study.

Main Methods:

• 1175 postmenopausal women's dietary intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaires to calculate HEI-2020 scores.
• Oral microbiome composition and diversity were analyzed from subgingival plaque samples using 16S rRNA sequencing.
• Statistical analyses included ANCOVA, PERMANOVA, and linear regression models to assess associations.

Main Results:

• No significant association was found between overall HEI-2020 scores and oral microbiome alpha- or beta-diversity.
• Higher HEI-2020 scores correlated with decreased abundance of specific bacteria (e.g., Lautropia, Streptococcus gordonii) and increased abundance of others (e.g., Selenomonas sp.).
• Individual HEI-2020 components, such as seafood and added sugar intake, were associated with microbiome diversity and composition.

Conclusions:

• The overall Healthy Eating Index-2020 score was associated with oral microbiome composition, but not diversity.
• Specific dietary components appear to exert a greater influence on oral microbiome diversity and composition than overall diet quality.
• Findings suggest targeted dietary interventions may modulate the oral microbiome effectively.