Couples share 30% of their gut bacteria. Here’s how that may affect health

Key Points:

• Partners living together share a significant portion of their microbiomes, including gut, oral, and skin bacteria, influencing each other's microbial communities beyond just lifestyle and diet.
• Couples can share 13% to 30% of their gut bacteria, which is linked to greater microbial diversity and potentially lower risks of certain diseases, though some shared bacteria may have mixed health effects.
• Oral microbiomes are also commonly shared, with couples living together sharing about 38% of their oral bacteria, which can impact oral health and possibly influence gut and nervous system health.
• The skin microbiome is highly personalized but shows the greatest similarity among cohabiting couples, with shared bacteria influenced by close contact and shared environments, although the health implications remain unclear.
• While sharing microbes with partners may have both beneficial and harmful effects, further research is needed to fully understand the overall impact on health.