Some studies have shown that altering the quantity or function of bacteria in the mouth blunts the beneficial effects of dietary nitrate. Such effects have been observed in animal studies of germ-free mice[1] and in clinical studies that have manipulated the oral microbial environment by adding anaerobic bacteria into the mouth[2] or by using antiseptic mouthwash.[3][4][5][4][6] The typical rise in plasma nitrite after consuming nitrate is also blunted after using antiseptic mouthwash.[7][4]
Interestingly, one epidemiological study that examined 945 individuals over 3 years found that frequent mouthwash users (at least twice daily) had a 55% greater risk of developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes compared to less frequent users and a 49% greater risk compared to nonusers.[8] While this study did not examine mechanisms, the disruption of the nitrate-to-nitrite conversion pathway in the mouth, which is catalyzed by oral bacteria,[9] was discussed as one possible explanation for the findings.
References
- ^Petersson J, Jädert C, Phillipson M, Borniquel S, Lundberg JO, Holm LPhysiological recycling of endogenous nitrate by oral bacteria regulates gastric mucus thickness.Free Radic Biol Med.(2015 Dec)
- ^Webb AJ, Patel N, Loukogeorgakis S, Okorie M, Aboud Z, Misra S, Rashid R, Miall P, Deanfield J, Benjamin N, MacAllister R, Hobbs AJ, Ahluwalia AAcute blood pressure lowering, vasoprotective, and antiplatelet properties of dietary nitrate via bioconversion to nitriteHypertension.(2008 Mar)
- ^Mary Woessner, James M Smoliga, Brendan Tarzia, Thomas Stabler, Mitch Van Bruggen, Jason D AllenA stepwise reduction in plasma and salivary nitrite with increasing strengths of mouthwash following a dietary nitrate loadNitric Oxide.(2016 Apr 1)
- ^Bondonno CP, Liu AH, Croft KD, Considine MJ, Puddey IB, Woodman RJ, Hodgson JMAntibacterial mouthwash blunts oral nitrate reduction and increases blood pressure in treated hypertensive men and women.Am J Hypertens.(2015 May)
- ^Petersson J, Carlström M, Schreiber O, Phillipson M, Christoffersson G, Jägare A, Roos S, Jansson EA, Persson AE, Lundberg JO, Holm LGastroprotective and blood pressure lowering effects of dietary nitrate are abolished by an antiseptic mouthwash.Free Radic Biol Med.(2009 Apr 15)
- ^S T J McDonagh, L J Wylie, P G Winyard, A Vanhatalo, A M JonesThe Effects of Chronic Nitrate Supplementation and the Use of Strong and Weak Antibacterial Agents on Plasma Nitrite Concentration and Exercise Blood PressureInt J Sports Med.(2015 Dec)
- ^Mirco Govoni, Emmelie A Jansson, Eddie Weitzberg, Jon O LundbergThe increase in plasma nitrite after a dietary nitrate load is markedly attenuated by an antibacterial mouthwashNitric Oxide.(2008 Dec)
- ^Joshipura KJ, Muñoz-Torres FJ, Morou-Bermudez E, Patel RPOver-the-counter mouthwash use and risk of pre-diabetes/diabetes.Nitric Oxide.(2017 Dec 1)
- ^Lundberg JO, Weitzberg E, Gladwin MTThe nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway in physiology and therapeuticsNat Rev Drug Discov.(2008 Feb)