Postbiotic foods for improving gum health

 

 

Caption

Foods containing  heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help prevent gingivitis and maintain oral health.

Credit

Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan

Continuous consumption of foods containing heat-inactivated Lactiplantibacillus pentosus can help reduce gum bleeding, report researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. These postbiotic foods can improve inflammatory conditions and enhance gum health in adults with mild gingivitis. The study suggested that these postbiotic foods offer a simple and practical way to support oral health in daily life without altering oral care habits. The findings also aid in the prevention of early-stage periodontal disease.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, affects millions of people worldwide. In early stages, known as gingivitis, the gums become swollen and are prone to bleeding. While professional dental care and regular oral hygiene is important for prevention of the disease, researchers are exploring innovative approaches that can support gum health in everyday life. One promising strategy is the use of probiotic (beneficial bacteria) for maintaining gum health. However, these usually disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in the oral cavity. Also, these probiotics possess a shorter shelf life and are less stable.

Addressing this issue, a research team led by Professor Takanori Iwata along with Assistant Professor Shogo Maekawa, and Visiting Lecturer Anhao Liu from the Department of Periodontology, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Japan, in collaboration with Associate Professor Megumi Ishiguro of the Health Science Research and Development Center, Science Tokyo, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Tokyo Center Clinic, Japan, investigated if postbiotic foods containing heat-inactivated bacteria (Lactiplantibacillus pentosus ONRICb0240) could help improve gum health and reduce bleeding without disrupting normal oral bacteria. The findings were published online in the Journal of Periodontology on April 19, 2026.

“We conducted a clinical trial on 116 adults who were suffering from mild gingival inflammation,” explains Iwata. The participants were randomly allocated to receive either the gummies containing heat-inactivated bacteria or placebo (non-loaded) gummies. The gummies were consumed twice daily for six weeks. The participants were not given any special instructions regarding tooth brushing or additional oral care, which allowed the researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of the gummies under realistic conditions.

At the end of the study, the researchers evaluated the gum health and gingival index (a measure of gum inflammation) of the participants. Surprisingly, the participants who had consumed the postbiotic gummies experienced less gum bleeding and their gums appeared healthier and stronger overall, compared to those who received the placebo gummies. For the gingival index, no significant difference was observed between the groups; however, a significant improvement from baseline was observed in the test group.

“By evaluating the gummies under normal daily living conditions, we were able to better understand their practical potential for supporting gum health,” says Iwata.

The significance of the study lies in the use of heat-inactivated bacteria rather than live probiotics strains. Heat-inactivated bacteria are generally more stable during manufacturing and storage, making them easier to convert into consumer products than live bacteria. In addition to this, the researchers believe that the anti-inflammatory effects of the postbiotic gummies might be responsible for the reduction in gum bleeding. Since gum bleeding is one of the earliest warning signs of gingivitis, reducing inflammation at this stage could help prevent the progression to more serious periodontal disease.

Overall, the research provides a simple and convenient method that can be added to routine oral care practices. It also highlights the growing potential of functional foods and probiotic-derived ingredients in preventive healthcare. Looking ahead, the researchers plan to investigate the underlying biological mechanisms and evaluate the long-term benefits of these gummies for periodontal health.

People who follow a short-term low-calorie diet may reduce gum disease.

 

People who follow a short-term low-calorie diet may have reduced markers of inflammation associated with gum disease.

A new study by King’s College London highlights how lifestyle modifications could be important alongside plaque control in managing gum disease.

While fasting has been linked to reduced inflammation around the body, this is the first to establish a relationship with gum disease too. The findings offer new insights into how oral and wider body health are closely intertwined.

Dr Giuseppe Mainas, first author of the study, King’s College London, said: “Our study suggests lifestyle modifications could be important alongside proper tooth brushing for patients.”

Periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease, affects millions of people worldwide and has been linked to wider health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. While standard treatment focuses on cleaning infected areas around the teeth, researchers are increasingly exploring whether diet can play a role in improving outcomes.

The research included 28 patients from across hospitals in Spain, split into two groups – those who followed a five-day restrictive diet, versus a control group who continued their usual diet.

Patients who fasted ate 1,100 calories for two days, then 750 calories for three days. The sixth day gently introduced more calories with soft foods – then their diets returned to normal by the seventh day. This was repeated three times in six months, with patients reporting the diet easy to stick to.

After six months, samples were analysed from the patients’ blood and gingival crevicular fluid – liquid that comes from the small space between your tooth and gum, which helps gums stay healthy and fight germs.

Those who fasted had reduced markers of inflammation in samples from blood and gum tissue compared to those whose diets stayed the same, including lower levels of C-reactive protein, a general indicator of inflammation around the body. The fasting group also had reduced molecules linked to inflammation specifically in the gums, compared to controls.

Senior-author Prof Luigi Nibali, King’s College London, said: “There may be multiple reasons why fasting is beneficial to gum disease patients. Fasting reduces oxidative stress in the body, a common cause of inflammation, which can damage cells and DNA.

“Intake of high calorific foods and refined carbohydrates, for example in cakes and biscuits, can also cause inflammation – so restricting these foods also reduces oxidative stress in the body.

“It may also be that fasting has beneficial effects on the microbiome – the body’s community of bacteria that help to keep it healthy. However, further research is needed to confirm this relationship.”

Dietary approaches such as fasting-mimicking diets could be investigated in the future as supporting approaches alongside conventional therapies for gum disease, such as professional cleaning and oral hygiene support.

Dr Mainas added: “Now we have established this relationship, we would like to do a larger study, before potentially incorporating into gum disease treatment in the future. There may be patients where restricting foods can be dangerous, such as those with diabetes, so the advice will need to be targeted to specific patient groups. We are currently investigating how we could implement these benefits in high-risk groups who may not be able to fast.”

The study builds on long-standing research by King’s College London investigating the relationship between gum disease and wider health. Last year, researchers at King’s discovered following the mediterranean diet reduces gum disease, and that successful dental treatment reduces risks of diabetes and heart disease.

This study was published in Journal of Clinical Periodontology (JCP).

Higher levels of exercise and greater protein intake recommended

A new perspective paper published in Frontiers in Nutrition argues that current public health recommendations for physical activity and protein intake are designed to prevent deficiency rather than maximise long-term health, independence, and quality of life. The paper explores first principal questions: How much protein should you have? What exercises should you be doing? What does the latest science tell us?

Author Dr Chris Macdonald (Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, and Director of the Better Protein Institute) says contemporary science reveals that higher levels of exercise and greater protein intake than current recommendations help people maintain physical and cognitive function as they age.

"Public health advice often focuses on the minimum people need to avoid problems," said Dr Macdonald. "But many people want to know what they should do to remain strong, independent, and mentally sharp throughout life."

The paper reviews evidence linking regular physical activity with lower mortality risk, improved mental health, enhanced cognition, and greater resilience against age-related decline. It highlights research suggesting that combining aerobic exercise with resistance training provides particularly strong benefits.

The review also examines protein intake recommendations. Current UK guidelines are based largely on preventing deficiency in sedentary adults. According to the paper, more recent research indicates that physically active individuals, older adults, and pregnant women may benefit from substantially higher protein intakes. The paper also highlights the fat-loss benefits of higher-protein diets (due to increased satiety and thermic effect).

Importantly, the paper notes that higher-protein diets can be compatible with plant-based eating patterns when meals are carefully planned. Evident with the rise in vegan powerlifters and bodybuilders.

Rather than replacing minimum recommendations, Dr Macdonald proposes adding guidance aimed at "optimal health outcomes" and providing the public with clearer, more practical advice.

In addition to having more evidenced-based guidelines, Dr Macdonald argues that we also need reframing and new perspectives: “… high-intensity exercise and high-protein diets are often associated with bodybuilders and superficial aesthetic goals. However, high-intensity exercise and high-protein diets also empower the general population to extend their lifespan and healthspan. Therefore, it is less about having ‘abs’ and a ‘beach body’ and more about being able to lift up, play with, and even remember, your grandchildren thanks to a strong and resilient body and mind. When we see a stereotypical image of a hunched-over slow, fragile person with ill health, in their later years, it seems like an inevitable consequence of “Father Time”, however, I propose that in most cases, it is evidence of a non-evidence-based lifestyle. In short, we should not be quick to normalise and accept the consequences of a largely sedentary lifestyle; we should proactively empower people to reclaim their health and their independence. The reduction in unnecessary suffering would be profound.”

Journal

Frontiers in Nutrition

Article title

"Beyond the bare minimum: the case for revised physical activity guidelines and protein intake recommendations that maximise healthspan"

Author

Dr Chris Macdonald. Fellow at Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. Director of the Better Protein Institute.

Link to article
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2026.1853124/full

 

Strength training linked to lower heart disease risk in women

 

Women who consistently strength train showed substantially lower risk of major cardiovascular disease, particularly alongside aerobic activity and reduced sedentary time

Women who lift weights may have a lower risk of major heart disease, especially when combined with aerobic exercise, according to a new study published today in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology. Findings show that heart health is better understood by looking at overall movement habits, rather than focusing on single behaviors alone, and resistance training can result in additional health benefits when incorporated into an active lifestyle.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide, making accessible prevention strategies more important than ever. Aerobic activities such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling and swimming are well established to help prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). Resistance training (RT), also known as strength training, is less established. It involves working muscles against a force, such as body weight, free weights, resistance bands or machines.

Current U.S. guidelines recommend at least two days of RT each week and 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity. They also stress limiting sedentary behaviors, including prolonged TV watching, now an independent risk factor for CVD. This study examines how RT influences CVD risk as part of this broader prevention approach.

“Despite its established health benefits, RT is often overlooked as a prevention strategy for CVD, and its impact on CVD risk—especially in middle-aged and older women—remains understudied,” said Dr. Tianyue Zhang, MD, lead study author and scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition. “A key question is, how much does it add beyond aerobic activity alone?”

Researchers analyzed a prospective cohort of 117,025 women from the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHS II with a mean age at baseline of 66.8 years and 48.1 years, respectively. RT was assessed every four years and reported separately for the arms and legs. TV viewing time was the primary measure of sedentary behavior and was assessed as average hours per week spent sitting at home watching TV. The primary outcome was incident major CVD, defined as nonfatal or fatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

In both cohorts, higher levels of RT were associated with lower risk of major CVD, especially MI, with no significant association for stroke. Women who did two or more hours of RT per week had a 20% lower risk of major CVD and a 44% lower risk of MI compared with women who did none. Each additional hour per week was associated with a 5% lower risk of major CVD and a 14% lower risk of MI. These associations became somewhat weaker after adjusting for BMI and cardiometabolic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, but they remained clear.

RT even offered additional benefit among women who also did aerobic activity. In this subgroup, women who did RT for two or more hours per week in addition to 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week had a 45% lower risk of MI than those with no physical activity, and associations for major CVD changed slightly. In an integrated analysis of movement patterns that considered RT, aerobic activity and TV viewing time together, women who met all three recommendations had the lowest risks of major CVD, MI and stroke compared with those who met some or none of the recommendations.

“These findings suggest that, within an already active population, RT is associated with additional reductions in CVD risk above and beyond overall aerobic activity,” said Zhang. “Alongside aerobic activity and reductions in sedentary behavior, RT may be an important component of public health strategies for cardiovascular prevention in women.”

Study limitations include reliance on self-reported resistance training data, the potential influence of unmeasured factors and limited participant diversity. Researchers also could not fully separate the effects of the type of RT performed from the overall amount of RT the participants completed.

“We have long encouraged resistance training, and this study provides strong evidence to reinforce that message,” said Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, FACC, Editor-in-Chief of JACC and the Harold H. Hines, Jr Professor at the Yale School of Medicine. “It should be included in a well-rounded health routine to support function and longevity.”

Loneliness drives cognitive impairment, can lead to shorter life

 

Older people who struggle with loneliness — rather than strictly being alone — may experience a faster mental and physical decline.

The study, led by the University of California, Davis, used advanced statistical modeling to chart loneliness and social isolation as older adults move through stages of cognitive impairment and mortality. The results suggest that loneliness plays a much stronger role in cognitive impairment and shorter life spans than social isolation on its own.

“Loneliness is a perception,” said Tomiko Yoneda, an assistant professor of psychology at UC Davis and the study’s lead author. “You could be surrounded by a crowd of people and still feel lonely, whereas isolation is just being alone. Some people might be not lonely at all and be completely content in their solitude.”

The study was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology on June 15. 

Modeling people’s lifetimes

The team’s statistical models tested the impacts of loneliness and social isolation, both together and separately, on transitions between various states of cognitive impairment to the end of people’s lives. 

“This approach is crucial,” said Yoneda, “because cognitive impairment increases mortality risk, and both risks increase with age.”

Yoneda led the team of 24 researchers who analyzed data from 175,000 participants over the age of 50. Participants reported how frequently they felt lonely as well as how often they had contact with others. 

The analysis found that loneliness was consistently associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment and a shorter life, even after taking social isolation into account. Social isolation on its own was not consistently associated with cognitive decline and had only a weak association with a shorter life. 

A 10% increase in reports of feeling lonely was associated with an 8%-9% increased risk of severely impaired cognitive function and of transitioning from no impairment to mildly impaired cognitive function. 

Reporting loneliness more frequently was also associated with a 3% lower likelihood of returning from mild cognitive impairment to no impairment. This suggest, researchers said, that alleviating loneliness may be important for recovery. Higher loneliness was the most consistent risk earlier in life even before measurable cognitive decline appeared, researchers said.

“Loneliness may be most prominent in early stages of cognitive impairment, but is also a risk factor after impairment develops,” said the study’s supervising author Eileen K. Graham, an associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University. “Lonelier individuals may be more likely to progress to more severe stages and less likely to recover.”

Reducing loneliness

The researchers said that finding ways to reduce loneliness, which would blunt its effects on cognitive impairment, could reduce the costs associated with care for individuals with dementia and other cognitive ailments.  

They also said that individuals worried about cognitive decline can make efforts to strengthen their social connections with the people around them. For instance, hospitals and care organizations can incorporate screening tools that identify loneliness. Communities could create opportunities for older adults to engage with others and build a sense of belonging.

Additional co-authors include Emorie Beck, assistant professor of psychology at UC Davis; as well as researchers representing the University of Southern California, Auburn University, UC Riverside, University College London, Western Virginia University, University of Limerick, Rush University Medical Center, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and Cornell University. 

Mounting evidence linking alcohol to pancreatic cancer

A new paper led by researchers at University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) contributes to mounting evidence that alcohol use can cause pancreatic cancer.

“Right now, the World Health Organization lists seven types of cancer, including mouth, breast and colon cancer, as being linked to alcohol consumption,” says Tim Naimi, CISUR’s director and an author of the study. “There has been a growing body of evidence pointing to alcohol consumption as a cause of pancreatic cancer, and this analysis is a significant contribution to that evidence.”

Pancreatic cancer is a particularly deadly form of the disease, with only about 12 percent of Canadians surviving five years after diagnosis.

The paper, published in the International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, is a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing cohort studies, which follow groups of people over time. The research team analyzed the literature to find evidence of the link between pancreatic cancer and alcohol intake in these types of studies.

A particular focus was on studies that avoided “former drinker” bias, where people who had quit drinking alcohol were counted as abstainers, as opposed to only counting people who never or rarely drank alcohol as abstainers.

“Often people who identify as abstainers in these cohort studies used to be heavy drinkers who quit due to health reasons, meaning they may still be feeling long-term effects of alcohol use, including cancer cases,” explains Jinhui Zhao, CISUR scientist and the paper’s lead author. “There has been a push in recent years to take this bias into account to truly measure alcohol’s health impacts.”

Once the authors controlled for former drinker bias, as well as other potentially confounding factors including age, smoking, and socioeconomic status, they found a dose-response relationship between pancreatic cancer and drinking. Drinking more than 24 grams of alcohol per day (a little under two standard Canadian drinks) was associated with a 10-30 percent increase in risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

“After rigorously analyzing the existing evidence, we strongly believe it’s time to add pancreatic cancer to the list of alcohol-related cancers,” says Naimi.

Read the paper Alcohol consumption and the risk of pancreatic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. 

Can’t stick to a diet? Try intermittent fasting for weight loss

Yo-yo dieters who struggle to lose weight and keep it off may achieve better results by following an intermittent fasting diet, rather than traditional calorie counting.

An Adelaide University study focusing on the psychological aspects of both intermittent fasting and calorie restriction, compared the effects both diets had on eating behaviours, mood, sleep and quality of life.

Although both diets led to similar amounts of weight loss, those on the fasting diet didn’t feel as though they needed to make major changes to their eating behaviours – such as monitoring overeating or counting calories - in order to lose weight.

This contrasts with the calorie restriction diet, where participants reported consciously having to think about restricting their food intake and avoiding overeating. That improved control accounted for 15% of their weight loss.

“While many diets can result in weight loss, they may be difficult to stick to and this makes keeping that weight off long-term more challenging,” said Professor Leonie Heilbronn from Adelaide University’s School of Medicine and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

“The results of our study indicate intermittent fasting could offer an alternative pathway for people who find conventional dieting challenging.”

More than 200 people with obesity were involved in the 18-month trial, which saw participants split into three diet groups – intermittent fasting, continuous calorie restricted and standard care

The intermittent fasting group was required to consume 30% of their energy needs between 8am and 12pm on three non-consecutive days each week, followed by a 20-hour fast. On non-fasting days, they were able to eat their regular diet.

Those on calorie restricted diets were limited to eating 70% of their usual diet, while the remaining participants followed standard diets but were given healthy eating guidelines.

Participants on both calorie restricted and intermittent fasting diets lost around seven kilograms in six months, compared to just two kilograms lost by those on the standard diet. They also reported improved levels of depression and wellbeing – even on fasting days.

The findings, which have been published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, suggest calorie restriction and intermittent fasting diets may drive weight loss through different psychological and behavioural pathways.

“Psychological and behavioural effects have a major influence on people’s abilities to adhere to diets. Intermittent fasting may help people achieve weight loss through ways that are less dependent on consciously restricting intake,” said Professor Heilbronn.

While intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular, relatively little is known about its long-term psychological and behavioural effects compared with standard dieting approaches.

“Future trials should be designed to identify individuals who struggle to improve eating behaviours, as they may do better with intermittent fasting diets, enabling more personalised weight management,” said Professor Heilbronn.

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Journal

Clinical Nutrition

DOI

10.1016/j.clnu.2026.106686