Side Effects: Sour Mouth, Lower BP - Summary - MDSpire
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Side Effects: Sour Mouth, Lower BP

Acidic gum beat sugar-free at cranking out nitric oxide from beetroot juice — exactly backward from what test-tube studies predicted. Also this week: a sleep gene that ignores amyloid, and jackfruit sap moonlighting as a bone-building drug delivery system.

  • By

  • Kerri Miller

  • June 23, 2026

  • 7 min

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Objective:

To investigate the effects of chewing sugar-loaded bubble gum versus sugar-free gum on blood pressure after consuming beetroot juice.

Approach:
    Key Findings:
    • Chewing sugar-loaded gum lowered salivary pH by about 1.4 units.
    • Sugar gum raised salivary nitrite production by 45% and plasma nitrite by 25%.
    • Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 2.7 mmHg and 1.9 mmHg, respectively.
    • A more acidic mouth enhances the nitrate-reductase activity of bacteria on the tongue.
    Interpretation:

    The findings suggest that oral pH influences the nitrate pathway, contrary to previous test-tube studies indicating higher pH promotes nitrate-to-nitrite conversion.

    Limitations:
    • The effect of the sugar gum on blood pressure faded by the sixth hour.
    • The authors do not recommend sugar-containing gum as a general approach due to potential diabetes concerns.
    Conclusion:

    The study highlights the mechanistic role of oral pH in the nitrate pathway.

    Sources:

Original Source(s)

Side Effects: Sour Mouth, Lower BP

  • by Kerri Miller

  • June 23, 2026

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