Characterizing Changes in Oral Microbiota With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

Abstract

Recent evidence has demonstrated association between dysbiosis of oral and gut microbiota with Cardiometabolic risk factors (CMR). However, the nature of dysbiosis and its implication on cardiometabolic risk phenotypes (obesity and hypertension) is not clear. In this longitudinal Kuwait Healthy Lifestyle Study (KHLS), I investigated whether changes in oral microbiota can predict changes in weight gain (Project-I), and development of hypertension (Project-II) in Kuwaiti adolescents. In investigating oral microbial changes with the development of obesity, we observed a higher Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio, in overweight phenotype. Increased abundance of Firmicutes tends to digest otherwise indigestible polysaccharides – which play a key role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Besides, higher proportions of pro-inflammatory, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) containing Prevotella sp., were observed in parallel with, a significant increase in CRP levels, in obese subjects, which is indicative of active systemic inflammation. We also observed that a reduction in nitrate-reducing (Actinomyces sp.), and nitrite-reducing (Streptococcus sp.), oral bacteria was associated with an increase in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure. In summary, we identified that changes in oral microbiota can predict the development of obesity and hypertension in adolescent children. Moreover, these changes in oral microbiota were modulated by changes in systemic inflammatory and metabolic pathways.