To determine the prevalence of oral dysbiosis (an imbalance in oral microbiota) and periodontal disease in IBD patients and its association with disease activity.
Key Findings:
Periodontal disease was more severe in active IBD (aIBD) patients compared to healthy controls (HC).
aIBD patients had poorer diet quality (lower Mediterranean diet scores) than inactive IBD (iIBD) and HC, indicating a potential link between diet and disease activity.
Significant differences in microbial community structure were found between aIBD and HC in various samples, suggesting a distinct microbial profile in aIBD.
Saliva from aIBD patients showed higher relative abundances of putative oral pathobionts, which may contribute to inflammation.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest a potential oral-gut inflammatory axis that may contribute to IBD flare-ups, indicating the need for routine dental assessments in IBD patients to potentially mitigate flare risks.
Limitations:
Single-center study may limit generalizability to broader populations.
Cross-sectional design does not establish causation, limiting the ability to infer direct relationships.
Conclusion:
Routine dental health assessments in IBD patients could be beneficial in managing disease activity and reducing flare risks.
by Netanel F Zilberstein, Phillip A Engen, Garth R Swanson, Ankur Naqib, Zoe Post, Julian Alutto, Stefan J Green, Maliha Shaikh, Kristi Lawrence, Darbaz Adnan, Lijuan Zhang, Robin M Voigt, Joel Schwartz, Ali Keshavarzian
