Farm Animal Exposures Shape Human Microbiome, Associated with Chronic Diseases

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in Environmental Research has found that raising farm animals imparts various exposures that may shape the human microbiome, particularly the oral microbiome. The research, conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), investigated associations between raising farm animals and the oral microbiome in the Agricultural Health Study. The study included 1,245 participants, with 63% of them raising farm animals, and found that specific animal exposures were associated with changes in the oral microbiome.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that participants who raised a large number of hogs had higher alpha diversity, while raising sheep/goats and poultry were associated with lower alpha diversity.
  • Beta diversity was not significantly different between participants with and without any farm animals.
  • Participants raising any farm animals had higher relative abundance of Porphyromonas and lower relative abundances of Prevotella and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014.
  • Specific animal exposures were associated with the presence or absence of certain bacterial genera, such as Capnocytophaga for cattle and sheep/goats, and Corynebacterium, Dialister, Stomatobaculum, and Solobacterium for sheep/goats and poultry.
  • The study suggests that raising specific farm animals may influence the oral microbiome, supporting the need to further investigate the potential role of animal farming in disease etiology.

Statistics:

  • 63% of participants raised farm animals.
  • 46% of participants raised cattle, and 20% raised hogs.
  • Participants raising any farm animals had higher relative abundance of Porphyromonas (odds ratio: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.03-1.47).
  • Participants raising any farm animals had lower relative abundances of Prevotella (odds ratio: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.59-0.97) and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 (odds ratio: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.98).

Sources:

  • "Animal Farming and the Oral Microbiome In the Agricultural Health Study." Environmental Research, 2025;281.
  • NewsRx. "Studies from National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the Area of Agricultural Health Described (Animal Farming and the Oral Microbiome In the Agricultural Health Study)." Agriculture Week. September 18, 2025; p 401.