Apparently Your Nose Has A Microbiome, Too — Here's How To Keep It Healthy

When you hear the word "microbiome," you inevitably think of the trillions of bacteria—both good and bad—hanging out in your gut. After all, these busy little bugs have far-reaching effects on both physical and mental health, so it's no surprise they get all the hype.  

But get this: There's not just one microbiome. Turns out, a diverse community of critters exists inside your nose, too. And while research on the "nasal microbiome" is young, some experts believe it's a pretty big deal and may play a significant role in immunity (which, of course, is something that happens to be on everyone's mind lately).

Just as the gut microbiome refers to the collection of bacteria and other microbes that inhabit the gut, the nasal microbiome simply refers to the collection of bacteria and other microbes in the nasal passageway, or upper respiratory tract.  

While it's not quite a household term yet, the nasal microbiome has started to gain attention thanks in large part to a recent study published this year in the journal Cell Reports. The gist of the research: Participants with more good bacteria in their nose tended to be at much lower risk of certain respiratory problems1—which may indicate better overall immune functioning.  

For the study, researchers swabbed the noses of 100 healthy people and compared the microbes they obtained to those of patients with chronic nasal and sinus inflammation (aka chronic rhinosinusitis, or CRS). They found that Lactobacillus bacteria, which has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, was about 10 times more abundant in the noses of healthy people. This builds on previous research2 that demonstrated greater bacterial diversity in the nose and the presence of the strain Lactobacillus sakei was protective against CRS.  

It's not always clear, but according to Lebeer, several things that are known to negatively affect overall health also seem to harm the balance of bacteria in the nasal microbiome.  

For example, in previous research involving smokers, Lebeer and her colleagues found an association with more pathogenic or harmful taxa in the nasal passageways such as Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium bacteria.

Overuse of antibiotics may have a negative impact on the nasal microbiome as well—just as it does in the gut microbiome. 

There's also some reason to think that poor gut health itself—caused by poor diet, antibiotics, or any number of factors—may in turn worsen the health of your nasal microbiome and lead to problems. "My practice has shown me that the implications of an unhealthy gut microbiome influence systems all over the body, including those connected with the respiratory systems, such as allergies and asthma," says Vincent Pedre, M.D., author of Happy Gut. "But when you improve gut health, you also improve the health of the airways." 

In fact, research suggests3 a significant connection between poor gut health at a young age and later development of asthma, and people with asthma have been shown to have different nasal microbiome compositions than people without. 

There's no magic bullet—although, Lebeer is in the process of developing a probiotic nasal spray containing Lactobacillus bacteria that colonize and optimally balance the nasal microbiome, which may be particularly beneficial for those suffering from CRS.