The amount of oral bacteria that convert nitrates to nitrites varies a lot between people, from less than 0.1% to over 85% of all oral bacteria.

Scientific Claim

The relative abundance of nitrate-reducing oral bacteria varies widely among individuals, with a mean of 20% of all measured oral taxa and a range from 0.09% to 86%.

Original Statement

“Nitrate‐reducing bacterial species represented 20±16% of all measured taxa. Participants had a mean total relative abundance of nitrate‐reducing taxa of 20% (SD=16%; range: 0.09%–86%), and many of the nitrate‐reducing bacteria species were present in most participants.”

From study:Association Between Nitrate‐Reducing Oral Bacteria and Cardiometabolic Outcomes: Results From ORIGINS

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

This is a descriptive finding about the distribution of bacteria in the study population, which is accurately reported without causal language.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Association Between Nitrate‐Reducing Oral Bacteria and Cardiometabolic Outcomes: Results From ORIGINS

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2019 Dec 3

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Association Between Nitrate‐Reducing Oral Bacteria and Cardiometabolic Outcomes: Results From ORIGINS

Score: 53

DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.119.013324

Similar Assertions

There are many different types of oral bacteria that can convert nitrates to nitrites, and together they make up about 20% of all oral bacteria in most people.

89%

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

80%

Using mouthwash that kills bacteria in the mouth makes it harder for the body to convert nitrate to nitrite, which lowers nitrite levels in the blood.

76%

Using mouthwash that kills mouth bacteria leads to higher levels of nitrate in both saliva and blood.

75%

Bacteria in the mouth help keep nitrite levels in the blood stable, which is shown by the fact that people with higher nitrite in their saliva also tend to have higher nitrite in their blood.

73%