# Planetary health diet with einkorn as a potential preventive strategy to improve interdental microbiota, oral health and quality of life: a pilot clinical trial

## TL;DR

A pilot study found that a Planetary Health Diet enriched with einkorn wheat improved oral health, microbiota balance, and quality of life.

## Contribution

This is the first pilot trial to explore the impact of an einkorn-enriched Planetary Health Diet on interdental microbiota and oral health.

## Key findings

- Significant reductions in harmful bacteria like Tannerella forsythia and Treponema denticola were observed.
- Periodontal health improved with reduced probing depth and clinical attachment loss.
- Quality of life and digestive comfort also improved significantly.

## Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) involve chronic inflammatory mechanisms to which periodontal periodontal dysbiosis may contribute. The Planetary Health Diet (PHD), a sustainable plant-based model for NCD prevention remains poorly explored regarding its impact on the interdental microbiota.

To evaluate whether an einkorn-enriched PHD can reduce interdental microbiota dysbiosis and promote oral and general health.

BIOQUALIM was a 3-month, single-arm, uncontrolled longitudinal pilot trial conducted under real-life conditions. Participants reduced their meat consumption by 50% and consumed  ≥100g/day of whole-grain einkorn. Interdental microbiota, periodontal indices, digestive comfort, and quality of life were assessed at baseline, one and three months.

Total bacterial load (p = 0.0236), Tannerella forsythia (p < 0.001) and Treponema denticola (p < 0.001) decreased significantly. Periodontal health improved significantly—probing depth decreased from 1.14 ± 0.70 mm to 0.58 ± 0.51 mm (p < 0.0001) and clinical attachment loss from 1.33 ± 0.73 mm to 0.60 ± 0.57 mm (p < 0.0001). Gingival inflammation decreased by > 60%, and bleeding on probing decreased by >70% (p = 0.0004). Digestive comfort improved— normalized stool frequency (p = 0.0009) and reduced postprandial drowsiness (p = 0.0196). Quality-of-life scores increased significantly (p = 0.039).

An einkorn-enriched PHD was associated with improved interdental microbiota, periodontal health, and well-being, supporting a One Health link between sustainable nutrition, oral microbiota modulation and inflammation-related pathways.