Women with high blood pressure have much less of the bacteria Veillonella in their mouths compared to women with normal blood pressure.

Scientific Claim

Hypertensive women have significantly reduced abundance of the nitrate-reducing bacterial genus Veillonella compared to normotensive women, with a p-value of 0.007.

Original Statement

“Women with hypertension had significantly lower salivary nitrite concentrations (p=0.006) and reduced abundance of the nitrate-reducing taxa Veillonella (p=0.007) compared with normotensive women.”

From study:Altered Oral Nitrate Reduction and Bacterial Profiles in Hypertensive Women Predict Blood Pressure Lowering Following Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation

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 is observational and shows an association between hypertension and reduced Veillonella abundance. The language 'reduced abundance' appropriately describes the observed association without implying causation.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Altered Oral Nitrate Reduction and Bacterial Profiles in Hypertensive Women Predict Blood Pressure Lowering Following Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2023 Nov

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Altered Oral Nitrate Reduction and Bacterial Profiles in Hypertensive Women Predict Blood Pressure Lowering Following Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation

Score: 34

DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.21263

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