Chlorhexidine mouthwash and post-meal blood sugar in healthy adults
The Effect of Chlorhexidine Mouthwash on Postprandial Glucose Response in Healthy Individuals
This study will test whether rinsing with chlorhexidine mouthwash changes how much blood sugar rises after eating in healthy adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 45 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Plymouth Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Plymouth, Devon) |
| Trial ID | NCT07172009 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Healthy adults (≥18 years) will be enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, crossover protocol with at least 25 participants, each completing two visits separated by a minimum 48-hour washout. At each visit baseline saliva and fingertip blood glucose are collected, participants rinse for two minutes with either 0.2% chlorhexidine or a placebo mouthwash, then consume a standardized breakfast of 40 g strawberry jam on 50 g white bread. Finger-prick blood glucose is measured at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes and the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) from baseline is calculated for each mouthwash condition. The iAUCs for chlorhexidine and placebo are compared to determine whether antiseptic oral rinsing alters postprandial glucose responses and thus the contribution of oral microbes to carbohydrate digestion.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adults over 18 who are not pregnant, not receiving cancer treatment, not taking antibiotics or immunosuppressants, and who have not used antibacterial mouthwash in the two weeks before participation.
Not a fit: People with diagnosed diabetes or other metabolic disorders, pregnant individuals, those on antibiotics, immunosuppressants, or cancer therapy, and recent users of antibacterial mouthwash are unlikely to be eligible or to gain direct benefit from this healthy-volunteer physiology study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal a simple way to influence post-meal blood sugar and highlight the role of oral bacteria in digestion, informing future prevention or treatment approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Prior small mechanistic studies suggest oral bacteria can affect carbohydrate breakdown and short-term glucose responses, but clinical data are limited and findings are mixed.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Healthy adults (\> 18 years/old) Exclusion Criteria: The main exclusion criteria is pregnancy, people following cancer treatment, taking immunosuppressant or antibiotics and using antibacterial mouthwash for less than 2 weeks before the study.
Where this trial is running
Plymouth, Devon
- University of Plymouth — Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Raul Bescos Garcia — University of Plymouth
- Study coordinator: Raul Bescos Garcia
- Email: Raul.Bescos@plymouth.ac.uk
- Phone: 07599034710
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.