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Side Effects: The Hidden Variable

The partner in the next room, the hormone in the blister pack, the cat on the couch, the minute-long chair stand. Several new studies suggest the factor shaping outcomes may be the one clinicians aren’t routinely measuring.

  • By

  • Kerri Miller

  • June 17, 2026

  • 6 min

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  • 1

    Romantic partners share more oral microbial strains than gut strains, with 44.4% overlap in oral strains compared to 19.5% in gut strains.

  • 2

    Only 4% of detected species-level genome bins appeared in both oral and gut samples, indicating rare overlap at the species level.

  • 3

    High-transmissibility gut species were linked to poorer cardiometabolic markers and overrepresented in type 2 diabetes-related microbial markers.

  • 4

    A study found that a 4-minute daily workout improved functional performance in older adults, with adherence rates of 81%.

  • 5

    Emotional eating increased during active combined oral contraceptive use, suggesting a need for appetite monitoring in contraceptive counseling.

Original Source(s)

Side Effects: The Hidden Variable

  • by Kerri Miller

  • June 17, 2026

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