Dietary Intake of Selected Nutrients Affects Bacterial Vaginosis in Women , ,3

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition of altered vaginal flora, is associated with various adverse reproductive health outcomes. We evaluated the association between diet and the presence of BV in a subset of 1521 women (86% African-American) from a larger study of vaginal flora. Participants completed the Block Food Questionnaire and clinical assessments and self-report measures of sexual and hygiene behavior. A total of 42% of the women were classified as having BV (Nugent score > or = 7). Severe BV (Nugent score > or = 9 and vaginal pH > or = 5) was present in 14.9% of the women. BV was associated [adjusted OR (AOR)] with increased dietary fat (1.5, 1.1-2.4) after adjusting for other energy nutrients and behavioral and demographic covariates. Severe BV was associated with total fat (2.3, 1.3-4.3), saturated fat (2.1, 1.2-3.9), and monounsaturated fat (2.2, 1.2-4.1). Energy intake was only marginally associated (P = 0.05) with BV (1.4, 1.0-1.8). There were significant inverse associations between severe BV and intakes of folate (0.4, 0.2-0.8), vitamin E (0.4, 0.2-0.8), and calcium (0.4, 0.3-0.7). We conclude that increased dietary fat intake is associated with increased risk of BV and severe BV, whereas increased intake of folate, vitamin A, and calcium may decrease the risk of severe BV.

Vaginal microbiome and sexually transmitted infections: an epidemiologic perspective

“…These Gram stain studies are certainly suggestive, and several groups, including ours, have ongoing genomic studies which are investigating why the vaginal microbiota fluctuate and the outcomes associated with such fluctuations. Menstrual bleeding, the hormonal fluctuation over the menstrual cycle, sexual behaviors, hygiene practices, new sexual partners, diet, and vaginal bacterial community composition are known to be contributors to fluctuation of vaginal bacterial communities based on microscopy and cultivation-based studies (63,(92)(93)(94); genomic studies will benefit the investigation of how these behavioral and extrinsic factors affect bacterial composition and abundance.…”

Bacterial Vaginosis Is Associated with Variation in Dietary Indices,

“…A growing body of evidence has emerged on the association between diet and nutritional status with BV (4-7), but the mechanisms remain unclear (8). Several studies have found associations between BV and poor micronutrient status, including vitamins A, C, E, and D and b-carotene (5,7) as well as low dietary intakes of folate, calcium, and vitamin E (4). LSVF previously assessed the association between macronutrient intake and BV in 1520 predominately African American women 15-44 y of age and found an increased risk of BV among women with higher energy and total fat consumption (4).…”

Pap smears: Frequency of Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida spp., Trichomonas vaginalis and pill use or copper intrauterine device use

“…This type of disease has been associated with lack of proper sexual orientation, education, hygiene habits, early onset of sexual activity and multiple partners [2,[8][9][10]. On the other hand, the disequilibrium in the vaginal ecosystem, due to the rise in pH above 4.5 and a decrease or absence of colonization by lactobacilli, decrease of vitamin A, folate and calcium may be predisposing factors to the proliferation of microrganismo [6,8,19].…”