Could lowering your bad cholesterol (LDL count) be as simple as rinsing your mouth with a mouthwash? According to the Biomedical Development Corporation (BDC), a clinical trial of their new iodine mouthwash lowered LDL cholesterol levels of users compared to the placebo group.
“We didn’t expect to see any difference in LDL cholesterol,” said Dr. Charles Gauntt, the study’s principal researcher. “We expected to see improvements in oral health, and we did. But we also monitored a number of biological markers for inflammation. The results showed the oral rinse had no adverse effects and users exhibited lower levels of LDL, or what many people know as bad cholesterol. This definitely merits further study.”
Currently, a longer clinical trial is underway to see how the mouthwash effects patients diagnosed with gingivitis over a six-month time period. This trial will also continue to track LDL levels as part of an additional study for these unexpected effects.
BDC’s mouthwash is to be used once a day for 30 seconds. The active ingredient of the formula is based on iodine. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements has found iodine to have a number of significant roles in the human body, from boosting the immune system to improving thyroid function. It is currently believed that roughly 40% of the world is at risk for iodine deficiency. Iodine also plays a key role in inactivating viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
Since people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease, Dr. Gauntt wanted to help develop an oral product that could effectively fight the battle on both fronts. He believes that additional research could provide more evidence that a healthy mouth, free of gum disease, is crucial for a healthy cardiovascular system. Even though his current product needs further study, he believes that this new mouthwash could play an important role in fighting both oral and cardiovascular disease simultaneously.
The BDC hopes that this new mouthwash will be available soon. You can find more information about it on the iClean website.