Oral bacteria and baby's health connection
Reduced Abundance of Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria in the Oral Microbiota of Women with Future Preeclampsia
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some mouth bacteria help control blood pressure by turning food nitrates into helpful chemicals. This study looked at pregnant women to see if these bacteria differ in those who get high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Surprising Findings
No difference in nitrate reductase gene (narH) between groups
Even though Veillonella was lower in preeclampsia cases, the gene responsible for nitrate reduction was the same — suggesting the bacteria themselves matter more than their genetic capacity.
Practical Takeaways
Maintain good oral hygiene to support healthy oral microbiome during pregnancy
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Some mouth bacteria help control blood pressure by turning food nitrates into helpful chemicals. This study looked at pregnant women to see if these bacteria differ in those who get high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Surprising Findings
No difference in nitrate reductase gene (narH) between groups
Even though Veillonella was lower in preeclampsia cases, the gene responsible for nitrate reduction was the same — suggesting the bacteria themselves matter more than their genetic capacity.
Practical Takeaways
Maintain good oral hygiene to support healthy oral microbiome during pregnancy
Publication
Journal
Nutrients
Year
2022
Authors
F. Altemani, H. Barrett, L. Callaway, H. Mcintyre, M. Dekker Nitert
Related Content
Claims (10)
Bacteria in the mouth help regulate blood pressure by converting nitrate to nitrite, which is part of the body's natural blood pressure control system.
Pregnant women who later got preeclampsia had less of a specific bacteria called Veillonella parvula in their mouths compared to women who stayed healthy during pregnancy.
In pregnant women, having more Veillonella bacteria in the mouth was linked to lower blood pressure readings.
The amount of a specific gene involved in nitrate reduction (narH) was similar in the mouths of pregnant women who later got preeclampsia and those who stayed healthy.
In pregnant women, higher levels of Veillonella bacteria in the mouth were linked to higher levels of Prevotella bacteria.