Oral microbiota changes in patients with phenylketonuria

Investigators may have uncovered the relationship between diet, oral microbiota and oral health in patients with phenylketonuria, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

Patients with the condition are typically advised to follow a low-protein diet and often experience a higher incidence of oral diseases. Previous research has found that oral microbiota may be influenced by diet and contribute to the immune equilibrium.

In the study, the investigators performed 16S rDNA sequencing on the saliva and subgingival plaque of 109 patients aged 6 to 68 years with phenylketonuria and 114 age-matched controls. Compared with controls, the patients with phenylketonuria demonstrated poorer dental health, lower oral microbiota diversity and differences in the abundance of certain bacteria — potentially attributed to diet-induced microbial dysbiosis and oral inflammation. Further, patients with phenylketonuria and poor periodontal health presented with higher levels of bacteria in the genus Tannerella.

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