Chlorhexidine mouthwash and post-meal blood sugar in healthy adults
Official title: The Effect of Chlorhexidine Mouthwash on Postprandial Glucose Response in Healthy Individuals
Run by University of Plymouth · NCT07172009 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study will test whether rinsing with chlorhexidine mouthwash changes how much blood sugar rises after eating in healthy adults.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 45 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Plymouth Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Plymouth, Devon) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 8, 2022 |
| Main results expected | December 10, 2025 |
| Study ends | June 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | September 19, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07172009 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
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
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
Test with Dexcom G7 glucose monitor during heart surgery
Researchers will see if the Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor accurately reflects blood sugar during cardiopulmonary bypass and in the ICU after heart surgery in adults.
-
Investigating the safety and effectiveness of porcine pancreatic cells in patients with Type 1 diabetes
This study is testing if using pig pancreas cells can help adults with tough-to-manage Type 1 diabetes feel better and avoid dangerous low blood sugar episodes.
-
Investigating how oxytocin affects blood sugar levels
This study is testing whether oxytocin can affect blood sugar levels and hormone release in healthy men with a normal weight.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.