Causal relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries: a two-sample mendelian randomization study

Abstract Background In recent years, an increasing number of studies have revealed a close relationship between the gut microbiota and a variety of human diseases. At the same time, it has also been shown that dysregulation of the oral microbiota may lead to changes in the gut microbiota. However, i...

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Main Authors: Yang Wang, Quan Li, Jinqi Hua, Hongliang Que, Haoxiang Xu, Xinyu Xu, Ninghan Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-04-01
Series:BDJ Open
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-025-00328-6
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author Yang Wang
Quan Li
Jinqi Hua
Hongliang Que
Haoxiang Xu
Xinyu Xu
Ninghan Feng
author_facet Yang Wang
Quan Li
Jinqi Hua
Hongliang Que
Haoxiang Xu
Xinyu Xu
Ninghan Feng
author_sort Yang Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In recent years, an increasing number of studies have revealed a close relationship between the gut microbiota and a variety of human diseases. At the same time, it has also been shown that dysregulation of the oral microbiota may lead to changes in the gut microbiota. However, it remains unclear whether the gut microbiota affects the occurrence and development of oral diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the potential effects of gut microbiota on dental caries and to reveal possible mechanisms of the gut-oral microbiota axis. Methods First, gut microbiota and dental caries data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were analyzed using Mendelian randomization analysis. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used as the main criterion (P value < 0.05). Then, MR-Egger regression, IVW regression and leave-one-out tests were used to test the reliability and stability of the mendelian randomization results. Finally, the potential mechanisms and significance of the relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries were explored. Results The analysis showed that Eubacteriumbrachygroup [odds ratio (OR) = 1.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.000–1.002, P = 0.046] and Terrisporobacter (OR = 1.002, 95% CI: 1.0001–1.0041, P = 0.035) were positively correlated with dental caries. Escherichia.Shigella (OR = 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995–0.999, P = 0.047), Oscillibacter (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.997–0.999, P = 0.038), RuminococcaceaeUCG014 (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.996–0.999, P = 0.044) and Oscillospira (OR = 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995–0.999, P = 0.038) were negatively correlated with dental caries. Conclusion The present study demonstrated a significant causal relationship between the gut microbiota and the development of dental caries, providing new insights into influencing the development of dental caries by affecting the composition of the gut microbiota.
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spelling doaj-art-30f5e935073b497b9e8696b35bf5e8cd2025-08-20T02:28:04ZengNature Publishing GroupBDJ Open2056-807X2025-04-011111710.1038/s41405-025-00328-6Causal relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries: a two-sample mendelian randomization studyYang Wang0Quan Li1Jinqi Hua2Hongliang Que3Haoxiang Xu4Xinyu Xu5Ninghan Feng6Department of urology, Jiangnan University Medical Center (Wuxi No. 2 People’s Hospital)Department of urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of urology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of urology, Jiangnan University Medical Center (Wuxi No. 2 People’s Hospital)Department of urology, Jiangnan University Medical Center (Wuxi No. 2 People’s Hospital)Department of urology, Jiangnan University Medical Center (Wuxi No. 2 People’s Hospital)Abstract Background In recent years, an increasing number of studies have revealed a close relationship between the gut microbiota and a variety of human diseases. At the same time, it has also been shown that dysregulation of the oral microbiota may lead to changes in the gut microbiota. However, it remains unclear whether the gut microbiota affects the occurrence and development of oral diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the potential effects of gut microbiota on dental caries and to reveal possible mechanisms of the gut-oral microbiota axis. Methods First, gut microbiota and dental caries data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were analyzed using Mendelian randomization analysis. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used as the main criterion (P value < 0.05). Then, MR-Egger regression, IVW regression and leave-one-out tests were used to test the reliability and stability of the mendelian randomization results. Finally, the potential mechanisms and significance of the relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries were explored. Results The analysis showed that Eubacteriumbrachygroup [odds ratio (OR) = 1.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.000–1.002, P = 0.046] and Terrisporobacter (OR = 1.002, 95% CI: 1.0001–1.0041, P = 0.035) were positively correlated with dental caries. Escherichia.Shigella (OR = 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995–0.999, P = 0.047), Oscillibacter (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.997–0.999, P = 0.038), RuminococcaceaeUCG014 (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.996–0.999, P = 0.044) and Oscillospira (OR = 0.997, 95% CI: 0.995–0.999, P = 0.038) were negatively correlated with dental caries. Conclusion The present study demonstrated a significant causal relationship between the gut microbiota and the development of dental caries, providing new insights into influencing the development of dental caries by affecting the composition of the gut microbiota.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-025-00328-6
spellingShingle Yang Wang
Quan Li
Jinqi Hua
Hongliang Que
Haoxiang Xu
Xinyu Xu
Ninghan Feng
Causal relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
BDJ Open
title Causal relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
title_full Causal relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
title_fullStr Causal relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
title_full_unstemmed Causal relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
title_short Causal relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries: a two-sample mendelian randomization study
title_sort causal relationship between gut microbiota and dental caries a two sample mendelian randomization study
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41405-025-00328-6
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