Friends may affect your gut microbes: Yale study finds real friends share more than just common interests

Friendships are rooted in mutual interests and passions. Co-lead author Francesco Beghini said, “We found substantial evidence of microbiome sharing happening among people who are not family and who don’t live together, even after accounting for other factors like diet, water sources, and medications. In fact, microbiome sharing was the strongest predictor of people’s social relationships in the villages we studied, beyond characteristics like wealth, religion, or education.” Patterns Microbiome similarity can be seen even in second-degree mutuals. But here’s where it gets fascinating, the high amount of microbial sharing was also high in friends, and even their friends’ friends These similarities most likely originated from shared activities, including frequent meals together or physical interactions like hugs and handshakes, which led to the transfer of microbes in social circles. Our study indicates that the people composing these groups may be connected in ways we never previously thought, even through their microbiomes.” ALSO READ: Research links gut microbiota to stress regulation and mental health management