Comparative study of vulva and abdominal skin microbiota of healthy females with high and average BMI.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obesity is known to modulate human health in a number of ways including altering the microbiome of the gut. Very few studies have examined the how obesity may affect the microbiomes of sites distant to the gut. We hypothesized that vulva and abdominal skin may be especially susceptible to body mass index (BMI)-induced alterations in biophysical properties and the microbiome due increased maceration and skin folds at those sites. The aim of this study was to determine if high BMI (≥30) was associated with alterations in the biophysical properties and microbiomes of vulva and abdominal skin.

Results

The vulvar microbial communities of healthy reproductive-aged females were examined using 16S rRNA sequencing techniques. Our results show that vulvar pH of women with h

SUBMITTER: Vongsa R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6337831 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature