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Chewing Xylitol Gum May Be Linked to Decrease in Preterm Birth
Chewing gum containing xylitol may reduce the risk of preterm births and low-birthweight deliveries, according to research conducted in Malawi and published in Med. Led by Dr. Greg Valentine, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Dr. Kjersti Aagaard, medical director of HCA Healthcare, the study explored a simple and accessible intervention with significant potential.
The trial, which ran from 2015 to 2018 across eight health centers in Malawi, included over 10,000 participants. Those who chewed gum containing xylitol—a sugar alcohol with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties—experienced a 24% reduction in preterm births and a 30% decrease in low-birthweight deliveries compared to a control group. Participants began chewing the gum before 20 weeks of gestation and continued until delivery.
These findings are particularly relevant in Malawi, where preterm births affect up to 20% of deliveries, and about 70% of pregnant individuals experience gum disease, a known risk factor for adverse birth outcomes. Traditional methods to manage gum disease, such as deep cleaning, are often unavailable in low-resource settings due to limited access to clean water, supplies, and healthcare workers. This study demonstrates the potential of xylitol gum to address these barriers.
A follow-up study, the Prevention of Developmental Delay and Xylitol (PreDDX) study, led by Dr. Valentine, is currently assessing the long-term developmental outcomes of children born during the trial, with results expected in 2027. Plans are underway to test the intervention in other low-resource communities, including areas in Seattle.
The study received funding from the E.W. Al Thrasher Research Fund, USAID, Texas Children’s Hospital, and the Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation-Malawi.
Read the full article on UW Medicine | Newsroom.
