Sugary Gum After Beetroot Juice Drops Blood Pressure
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- King's College London researchers found chewing sugary Hubba Bubba gum after beetroot juice lowered saliva pH by 1.4 points versus sugar-free Wrigley's Extra, boosting mouth nitrite levels by 45%.
- The crossover study with healthy volunteers produced a 25% increase in circulating nitrite and a systolic blood pressure drop of nearly 3 mmHg, with diastolic falling by almost 2 mmHg compared with sugar-free gum.
- Dr. Andrew Webb led the research, noting the study tested whether raising saliva acidity — the opposite of an earlier grapefruit-juice finding that inhibited conversion — would enhance nitrate-to-nitrite conversion in the whole body over several hours.
- The researchers cautioned the temporary findings should not be read as a recommendation to chew sugary gum for blood pressure, citing well-known dental and cardiometabolic risks of regular sugar consumption.
- Co-author Dr. Charlotte Mills of the University of Reading called the results a 'proof of concept' for improving nitrate processing without long-term sugar use, pointing to the culinary tradition of following nitrate-rich vegetables with a sweet dessert.
- The team plans a larger follow-up study in athletes to examine how the gum intervention affects nitrate metabolism, blood pressure, and exercise performance.
Why it matters: Athletes who already use beetroot juice for performance are the clearest near-term beneficiaries — the team plans a follow-up study in athletes specifically, and the proof-of-concept may drive development of tooth-friendly, non-sugar methods that replicate the 25% boost in circulating nitrite without the dental trade-off.
