Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41648774›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2025

From urban to alpine: environmental microbial transfer in urban adults - the ALM Study.

Johanna Freidl, Daniela Huber, Michael Bischof, René Zechner, Christina Pichler, Lisa Fickel, Victoria Fischer, Herbert Weingartner, Bela Hausmann, Petra Pjevac and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Johanna Freidl *Institute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Daniela Huber *Institute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Michael BischofInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
René ZechnerInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Christina PichlerInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Lisa FickelInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Victoria FischerInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Herbert WeingartnerDepartment of Geography and Geology, Paris Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Bela HausmannJoint Microbiome Facility, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Petra PjevacJoint Microbiome Facility, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Maximilian KiefelLab for Intelligent Data Analytics (IDA Lab), Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Thomas PrinzLab for Intelligent Data Analytics (IDA Lab), Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Günter GruberiSPACE plus GmbH, Salzburg, Austria.
Arnulf HartlInstitute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Urbanization is linked to reduced microbial exposure, increased prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, and diminished psychological resilience. In contrast, traditional alpine farming environments offer high biodiversity and low pollution, potentially promoting restorative health effects. The ALM Study (ALpine Farming and Human Nasal Microbiome Diversity) explored the feasibility and physiological impact of a 7-day immersion in such an environment among previously unexposed ("Alm-naive") individuals. Methods: This prospective, single-arm feasibility study was conducted in the Riedingtal Valley, Austria. Twenty-two healthy adults (median age: 30.5 years), with no prior agricultural exposure, participated in a 7-day immersive intervention involving daily alpine farming activities. Biological (nasal swabs, venous blood), physiological (VO₂max), and psychological (WHO-5 psychological wellbeing index, EQ-5D VAS, NR-6) data were collected immediately before and after the intervention. The primary outcome was the change in nasal microbiome diversity (16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing); secondary outcomes included hematological markers, lipid metabolism, inflammatory parameters, and wellbeing scores. Pre-post changes were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: Nasal microbiome analysis revealed significant increases in species richness and evenness ( Conclusion: A 1-week immersion in a biodiverse alpine environment was associated with measurable changes in the nasal microbiome, hematological and metabolic profiles, and psychological wellbeing. These findings support both the feasibility and the potential health relevance of short-term, nature-based interventions for urban populations.

Indexed as

AgricultureMicrobiotaUrban PopulationAdultAustriaFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleProspective Studiesalpine pasture environmentexposomefarm-effecthematological adaptationmicrobiome diversitynasal microbiomenature-based therapiespsychological wellbeing

Identifiers

PMID41648774
PMCPMC12868296

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.