Overview
- A randomized crossover trial published June 19 found that healthy volunteers who drank beetroot juice then chewed sugar‑containing gum had higher salivary and blood nitrite and small drops in blood pressure compared with chewing sugar‑free gum.
- The study measured a roughly 1.4 fall in salivary pH, about 45% higher nitrite in the mouth, about 25% higher systemic nitrite and average systolic/diastolic falls of about 3/2 mmHg when participants chewed sugary gum.
- Volunteers chewed branded sugar gum (Hubba Bubba) or sugar‑free gum (Wrigley’s Extra) for three to six hours after a 70 ml beetroot shot in a within‑subject design with repeated saliva, blood and blood‑pressure checks.
- Authors stress the effect lasted only hours and caution against regular use of sugary products because of tooth decay and metabolic risks, calling instead for tooth‑friendly methods to boost nitrate conversion.
- The team proposes larger trials focused on athletes who already use dietary nitrate and work to develop safe, non‑sugary ways to enhance oral nitrate‑to‑nitrite conversion and exercise benefits.