Even after accounting for many other factors that could affect insulin sensitivity, the link between oral bacteria that convert nitrates to nitrites and better insulin sensitivity still holds true.

People with more oral bacteria that convert nitrates to nitrites tend to have better insulin sensitivity, meaning their bodies handle sugar better.

The amount of oral bacteria that convert nitrates to nitrites doesn't seem to be related to whether people have prediabetes or high blood pressure.

People with more oral bacteria that convert nitrates to nitrites tend to have lower blood sugar levels.

Even when people ate a diet low in nitrate, using the special mouthwash still increased their blood pressure, which suggests the effect comes from the body's own nitrate recycling process.

When nitrite levels in the blood went down after using mouthwash, blood pressure went up, and this connection was strong enough to be statistically significant.