People with gum disease don't get the same blood pressure-lowering effect from beetroot juice as healthy people do.

Scientific Claim

Periodontitis is associated with a reduced blood pressure-lowering response to nitrate-rich beetroot juice, with systolic blood pressure decreasing by 6.68 ± 6.02 mmHg in healthy individuals but not significantly in periodontitis patients before treatment.

Original Statement

“In healthy individuals, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DPB) decreased significantly (both P < 0.01) 90 min after BRJ intake, but not in periodontitis patients.”

From study:The blood pressure lowering effect of beetroot juice is impaired in periodontitis and recovered after periodontal treatment

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study design is observational and shows association between periodontitis and reduced blood pressure response to beetroot juice. The language 'associated with' appropriately reflects the correlational nature of the findings.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

The blood pressure lowering effect of beetroot juice is impaired in periodontitis and recovered after periodontal treatment

Cohort Study

Human

2025 Jan 9

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

The blood pressure lowering effect of beetroot juice is impaired in periodontitis and recovered after periodontal treatment

Score: 38

DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00622-5

Similar Assertions

Treating gum disease helps people with gum problems get the blood pressure-lowering benefits from beetroot juice.

96%

People with gum disease have more nitrate left in their saliva after drinking beetroot juice, meaning their mouth bacteria aren't converting it as well as healthy people's bacteria.

88%

Drinking beetroot juice in a warm room doesn't make your blood pressure go down compared to drinking a placebo in the same warm room.

78%

Drinking beetroot juice makes people produce more saliva, with healthy people producing more than those with gum disease.

76%

Drinking beetroot juice (about 1 cup) lowers blood pressure, with the biggest drop being about 5 mm Hg, and it works similarly to nitrate supplements.

75%