The Claim
Neanderthals from El Sidrón Cave, Spain, had an oral microbiome composition that was distinct from that of Neanderthals from Spy Cave, Belgium, with these differences correlated to dietary patterns, indicating that meat consumption contributed to substantial variation in Neanderthal oral bacterial communities.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Analysis of ancient dental plaque shows that Neanderthals from Spain and Belgium had different types of oral bacteria, and these differences were linked to how much meat they ate.
See the scientific wording
Neanderthals from El Sidrón Cave, Spain, exhibited an oral microbiome composition distinct from those in Spy Cave, Belgium, with differences correlated to dietary patterns, suggesting that meat consumption contributed to substantial variation in Neanderthal oral bacterial communities.
When people eat mostly meat, bacteria that break down proteins and fats become more common in the mouth, while eating mostly plants favors bacteria that digest sugars and fibers. This change in food supply shifts which bacteria can survive and multiply, leading to completely different bacterial communities in the mouth depending on what was eaten.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Neanderthal behaviour, diet, and disease inferred from ancient DNA in dental calculus
Scientists found that Neanderthals who ate mostly meat had different mouth bacteria than those who ate mostly plants, showing that what they ate changed the kinds of bacteria living in their mouths.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.