Journal Article

Pilot randomized trial of the effect of antibacterial mouthwash on muscle contractile function in healthy young adults

Hoffman, Richard L., Gallardo, Edgar J., Singhal, Ahaan, Coggan, Andrew R., Zoughaib, William S.

2025

Overview

Antiseptic mouthwash use is widespread due to its oral health benefits. However, its impact on systemic physiological processes, particularly nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and muscle contractility, is not fully understood. We sought to determine the effects of cetylpyridinium (antibacterial) versus sodium chloride (control) mouthwashes on salivary and breath NO markers and muscle contractile function in healthy young adults. Thirty participants (n = 15/group) completed a randomized, parallel-arm, blinded trial, comparing the two mouthwashes before and after 7 d of treatment. NO bioavailability was inferred via measurement of salivary nitrate (NO 3 − ), nitrite (NO 2 − ), and cyclic guanyl monophosphate (cGMP) concentrations and breath NO level. Contractile function of the knee extensor muscles was determined via isokinetic dynamometry. No changes in salivary NO 3 − , NO 2 − , or cGMP or in breath NO were observed in response to either treatment. However, cetylpyridinium mouthwash reduced the percentage of NO 2 − in saliva (17 ± 10% vs. 25 ± 13%; p = 0.0036). Peak torque at velocities of 0–6.28 rad/s was unaffected by mouthwash use. Calculated maximal knee extensor velocity (Vmax) and power (Pmax) were therefore also unchanged. Cetylpyridinium mouthwash reduces the relative abundance of NO 2 − in the oral cavity but does not significantly diminish overall NO bioavailability or impair muscle contractile function in healthy young adults.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Adult / Adults / Analysis / Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology / Antibacterial agents / Antiinfectives and antibacterials / Arm / Bioavailability / Biology and Life Sciences / Blood pressure / Cetylpyridinium - pharmacology / Chemical properties / Chlorine compounds / Clinical trials / COVID-19 / Cyclic GMP / Cyclic GMP - metabolism / Diabetes / Exercise / Female / Forecasts and trends / Health aspects / Hispanic Americans / Humans / Knee / Male / Medicine and Health Sciences / Mouthwashes / Mouthwashes - pharmacology / Muscle contraction / Muscle Contraction - drug effects / Muscle function / Muscles / Nitrates / Nitrates - analysis / Nitrates - metabolism / Nitric oxide / Nitric Oxide - metabolism / Nitrites - analysis / Nitrites - metabolism / Nitrogen dioxide / Oral cavity / Physical fitness / Physiological aspects / Physiological effects / Physiology / Pilot Projects / Questionnaires / Relative abundance / Saliva / Saliva - chemistry / Saliva - metabolism / Sample size / Sodium / Sodium chloride / Variance analysis / Velocity / Young Adult / Young adults