title: Stimulation of the nitrate-nitrite-NO-metabolism by repeated lettuce juice consumption decreases gingival inflammation in periodontal recall patients: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: This prospective, parallel group, two-armed, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial evaluated the impact of dietary nitrate consumption on gingival inflammation in periodontal recall patients.
  
  
  
  Forty-four (23 test/21 placebo) periodontal recall patients with chronic gingivitis were enrolled. At baseline, gingival index (GI), plaque control record (PCR) and salivary nitrate level (SNL) were recorded, followed by sub- and supragingival debridement. Subsequently, participants were randomly provided with 100 ml bottles of a lettuce juice beverage to be consumed 3× daily over 14 days, containing either a standardized amount of nitrate resulting in an intake of approximately 200 mg nitrate per day (test) or being devoid of nitrate (placebo).
  
  
  
  At baseline, mean GI, PCR and SNL did not differ significantly between the groups. At day 14, mean GI of the test group was significantly reduced compared to baseline and significantly lower (p = 0.002) than in the placebo group (GI 0.3 versus 0.5). Also, mean SNL in the test group was significantly higher than in the placebo group (54.0 μg/ml versus 27.8 μg/ml; p < 0.035). Mean PCR did not change significantly in both groups.
  
  
  
  Dietary nitrate consumption may be a useful adjunct in the control of chronic gingivitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jockel-Schneider
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Chair Plant Foodstuff Technology and Analysis, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Sophia K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Goßner
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stölzel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Chair Plant Foodstuff Technology and Analysis, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hägele
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Chair Plant Foodstuff Technology and Analysis, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf Martin
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schweiggert
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Imme
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Haubitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eigenthaler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Chair Plant Foodstuff Technology and Analysis, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.|Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carle
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schlagenhauf
mesh_terms: D003773:Dental Plaque; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005891:Gingivitis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D018545:Lactuca; D009573:Nitrites; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites
keywords: gingivitis; periodontal disease; periodontitis