Category: 8. Health

Intense light therapy after surgery can increase a critical protein that protects heart tissue while lowering levels of troponin, a protein indicating heart damage that’s linked to higher mortality in patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, according to a study by researchers at CU Anschutz.

The study was published this week in the Annals of Translational Medicine.

The results add to a growing body of evidence showing that intense light has a healing effect on the heart and blood vessels, a finding that could help reduce the number of cardiac events that happen after surgery. Myocardial Injuries in Noncardiac Surgeries (MINS) occur in about 20% of patients and significantly increase one year mortality rates.

The risk of myocardial injury goes up after certain surgeries and is significantly higher in patients older than 45. In tests on humans and animal models we found that intense light can significantly reduce troponin release. High levels of troponin following non-cardiac surgery can lead to death. Blocking it could be a very novel therapy for MINS – a disease without therapy.”

Tobias de la Garza Eckle, MD, PhD, FASA, study’s senior author, professor of anesthesiology, CU Anschutz School of Medicine

Eckle’s previous studies using rodent models have shown that bright light can strengthen the endothelium or lining of the blood vessels. The protection comes from a protein called PER2 which works with fellow protein HIF1A to boost levels of yet another protein ANGPTL4, a key player in vascular health.

In this study, the researchers gave some patients having routine spine surgery intense light therapy for 30 minutes at sunrise for five days. The light increased ANGPTL4 levels and lowered troponin levels. Those who didn’t receive the therapy saw troponin levels increase.

Eckle said bright light therapy increases the circadian rhythm amplitude and protects the heart before and after myocardial injury. The protection relies on the presence of the PER2 protein, but Eckle’s team found that ANGPTL4 protein therapy can protect the heart even when PER2 is missing.

“This ANGPTL4 protein therapy could be a promising strategy to reduce myocardial injury to patients one day,” Eckle said. “We have started using intense light therapy in patients and have seen similar pathways are activated in humans as they are in animal models. A clinical trial will be necessary to understand the real impact of intense light therapy on Myocardial Injury in Noncardiac Surgery.”

This study was funded by an R56 from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

A new study in mice provides insights into why females in their reproductive years appear to be relatively protected from chronic kidney disease, a leading public health concern. The study reports that estrogen-regulated signaling promotes the regeneration of key filtration cells in female kidneys. The study also links pregnancy complications like preeclampsia to failures in this regenerative process. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) – which affects more than 10% of the global population – is a leading public health concern, not only because it can lead to fatal kidney failure, but also because it increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Within the next 20 years, CKD is expected to become the fifth leading cause of death globally.

Previous research has shown that sex differences play a notable role in disease progression: men are at higher risk for CKD, while women of reproductive age appear to be relatively protected. Although this suggests that female sex hormones, like progesterone and estrogen, may have a protective effect in the development of CKD, the mechanisms underlying the observed sex-based differences in disease susceptibility remain poorly understood.

Through lineage tracing, single-cell RNA sequencing, and an analysis of mouse models and human tissue and urine samples, Carolina Conte and colleagues show that female kidneys possess a greater capacity to regenerate key filtering cells, called podocytes, from renal progenitor cells. The cells are regenerated through estrogen receptor–dependent signaling, which protects against kidney disease and hypertension during reproductive years. What’s more, the authors found that this effect intensified in pregnant mice as kidneys adapted to a higher workload. However, when this regenerative capability is compromised, such as in preeclampsia, mouse mothers face heightened long-term risks of kidney disease and hypertension. At the same time, their offspring are predisposed to poor nephron development, low birth weight, and later-life cardiovascular and renal problems.

According to Conte et al., the findings indicate that preeclampsia may arise from a failure of kidney progenitor cells to supply sufficient podocytes, linking maternal kidney health directly to pregnancy outcomes. This link offers new insights into potential therapeutic opportunities.

Following injury from a heart attack, immune cells called neutrophils release a peptide that punctures stressed heart cells and destabilizes their electrical activity. This triggers life-threatening arrhythmias. These findings offer a novel explanation – and potential therapeutic target – for these deadly cardiac events. Ischemic heart disease – cardiac damage caused by narrowed coronary arteries – is among the leading causes of death worldwide. It can lead to heart attacks and sudden cardiac death. When a coronary artery becomes blocked, cardiomyocytes experience oxygen deprivation, which disrupts their ability to manage ions like sodium and calcium, leading to dangerous electrical instability and life-threatening arrhythmias, for which there are few treatment options beyond defibrillation. Most arrhythmias occur within the first 2 days after a heart attack, which coincides with the characteristic cellular inflammatory response to the cardiac injury. Neutrophils, which are recruited in high numbers during this response, are known to interfere with normal cellular electrical conduction and are implicated in unintended tissue damage. While this highlights neutrophils as a potential target for future therapies, their full role in promoting arrhythmias isn’t fully understood.

Using mouse models of ischemic injury alongside human tissue and cell studies, Nina Kumowski and colleagues identified the peptide resistin-like molecule γ (Retnlg or RELMγ) as a key neutrophil-derived factor that promotes arrhythmias after a heart attack. According to Kumowski et al., RELMy – an antimicrobial pore-forming peptide – destabilizes heart rhythm by binding to and attacking stressed cardiomyocytes. Once bound, the peptide punctures the cardiomyocyte membranes, creating pores that alter cellular ion flux, triggering delayed depolarization, cell death, and the formation of tissue abnormalities that promote arrhythmia. In mouse models, removing RELMγ from neutrophils reduced ventricular arrhythmia 12-fold, supporting findings that the peptide drives electrical instability in the injured heart. Notably, the human homolog of this peptide, resistin (RETN), was detected in infarcted human myocardial tissue samples, and higher circulating RETN levels correlated with worse patient outcomes, highlighting its potential clinical relevance. In a related Perspective, Edward Thorp discusses the study in greater detail.

Researchers from Flinders University have found a severe emotional and physical burden among pregnant women with extreme morning sickness, publishing their findings in PLOS One.¹

The data also indicated significant rates of considering pregnancy termination, alongside 9 in 10 pregnant women with extreme morning sickness considering not having more children. This highlights the debilitating nature of the condition and the inconsistent efficacy of common treatment methods.

“Women are often prescribed multiple medications in an attempt to manage their symptoms, but the reality is that many of these treatments come with their own burdens,” said Luke Grzeskowiak, PhD, associate professor at Flinders University.

Survey characteristics

The cross-sectional online survey study was conducted to evaluate treatment usage and experiences among women with severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) or hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).² Participants included women residing in Australia with prior or current NVP or HG experience.

There were 4 parts to the study survey, which was completed online between July and September 2020. These parts included respondent characteristics, awareness, and perceived safety of treatments, characteristics of HG, and quality of life impact, and personal experiences.

Quality of life impacts were reported on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating a greater impact. Additional questions gauged considerations for pregnancy termination, depression and anxiety experiences, and requests for induction or elective cesarean section.

Treatment experiences included treatment methods used, week of pregnancy beginning or stopping treatment, treatment duration, side effects, reasons for termination, and perceived efficacy of treatment on a 5-point Likert scale. Two consumer representatives and 2 clinical experts assessed the survey’s face validity.

Onset and severity of symptoms

There were 289 participants aged a mean of 33 years included in the final analysis. Of these, 38% were currently pregnant, 94% Caucasian, 95% married, and 87% with complete secondary education. One or more prior births were reported in 88% and not smoking in the current or prior pregnancy in 96%.

NVP onset occurred at a median 6 weeks’ gestation, with all cases beginning during the first trimester. Weight loss during pregnancy was reported by 75% of participants, ranging from 1 to 40 kg, and with a median of 7 kg. Moderate NVP was reported in 41% of participants and severe NVP in 59%.

A formal HG diagnosis was given to 76% of respondents, while 72% were admitted to the hospital for IV fluids during pregnancy. Difficulty eating or drinking as normal was reported by 98% and feelings of anxiety or depression because of HG symptoms by 62%. Thirty-seven percent requested labor induction because of their symptoms.

Considering pregnancy termination was reported by 54% of respondents, and not having more children by 90%. Over half of respondents experienced significant impacts of HG on aspects of life, including social life, work, sleep, ability to undertake daily chores, ability to eat or drink, and taking care of pre-existing children.

Complexity of medication use

The use of at least 1 antiemetic during pregnancy was reported by all participants. A mean of 4.2 antiemetics were used, with a range of 1 to 9. Ondansetron was the most common antiemetic used by 91% of participants, followed by pyridoxine in 70%, doxylamine in 70%, metoclopramide in 69%, and ginger in 53%.

Only 7% of respondents used a single antiemetic in pregnancy. Ginger, metoclopramide, ondansetron, and pyridoxine were initiated earlier than other treatments, at a median 6 weeks’ gestation for each antiemetic. The latest median time of initiation at 12 weeks’ gestation was reported for corticosteroids.

The shortest durations of use were reported for ginger, metoclopramide, and prochlorperazine, at 2 to 4 weeks, while doxylamine and ondansetron had the longest median durations of 16 and 20 weeks, respectively.

Side effects were reported in 78% of women taking doxylamine, 73% ondansetron, and 72% promethazine. Thirty-one percent taking metoclopramide ceased treatment because of side effects, vs 24% for ginger and 23% for prochlorperazine. Common side effects included constipation, sedation, and mood disorders.

Implications

Over half of respondents taking corticosteroids, ondansetron, and doxylamine reported the medication to be effective. However, under 10% reported efficacy for pyridoxine or ginger. This highlighted a complex landscape of medication use for severe NVP and HG.

“We need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and toward personalized care that recognizes the full impact of HG,” said Caitlin Kay-Smith, study co-author and founder of Hyperemesis Australia.

References

1. Emotional and medical toll of extreme pregnancy nausea, with many women considering ending pregnancies. Flinders University. September 3, 2025. Accessed September 4, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1096797.
2. Wills L, Hsiao H, Thomas A, Kay-Smith C, Henry A, Grzeskowiak LE. Assessing the burden of severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy or hyperemesis gravidarum and the associated use and experiences of medication treatments: An Australian consumer survey. PLOS One. 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0329687

Researchers from Flinders University have found a severe emotional and physical burden among pregnant women with extreme morning sickness, publishing their findings in PLOS One.¹

The data also indicated significant rates of considering pregnancy termination, alongside 9 in 10 pregnant women with extreme morning sickness considering not having more children. This highlights the debilitating nature of the condition and the inconsistent efficacy of common treatment methods.

“Women are often prescribed multiple medications in an attempt to manage their symptoms, but the reality is that many of these treatments come with their own burdens,” said Luke Grzeskowiak, PhD, associate professor at Flinders University.

Survey characteristics

The cross-sectional online survey study was conducted to evaluate treatment usage and experiences among women with severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) or hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).² Participants included women residing in Australia with prior or current NVP or HG experience.

There were 4 parts to the study survey, which was completed online between July and September 2020. These parts included respondent characteristics, awareness, and perceived safety of treatments, characteristics of HG, and quality of life impact, and personal experiences.

Quality of life impacts were reported on a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating a greater impact. Additional questions gauged considerations for pregnancy termination, depression and anxiety experiences, and requests for induction or elective cesarean section.

Treatment experiences included treatment methods used, week of pregnancy beginning or stopping treatment, treatment duration, side effects, reasons for termination, and perceived efficacy of treatment on a 5-point Likert scale. Two consumer representatives and 2 clinical experts assessed the survey’s face validity.

Onset and severity of symptoms

There were 289 participants aged a mean of 33 years included in the final analysis. Of these, 38% were currently pregnant, 94% Caucasian, 95% married, and 87% with complete secondary education. One or more prior births were reported in 88% and not smoking in the current or prior pregnancy in 96%.

NVP onset occurred at a median 6 weeks’ gestation, with all cases beginning during the first trimester. Weight loss during pregnancy was reported by 75% of participants, ranging from 1 to 40 kg, and with a median of 7 kg. Moderate NVP was reported in 41% of participants and severe NVP in 59%.

A formal HG diagnosis was given to 76% of respondents, while 72% were admitted to the hospital for IV fluids during pregnancy. Difficulty eating or drinking as normal was reported by 98% and feelings of anxiety or depression because of HG symptoms by 62%. Thirty-seven percent requested labor induction because of their symptoms.

Considering pregnancy termination was reported by 54% of respondents, and not having more children by 90%. Over half of respondents experienced significant impacts of HG on aspects of life, including social life, work, sleep, ability to undertake daily chores, ability to eat or drink, and taking care of pre-existing children.

Complexity of medication use

The use of at least 1 antiemetic during pregnancy was reported by all participants. A mean of 4.2 antiemetics were used, with a range of 1 to 9. Ondansetron was the most common antiemetic used by 91% of participants, followed by pyridoxine in 70%, doxylamine in 70%, metoclopramide in 69%, and ginger in 53%.

Only 7% of respondents used a single antiemetic in pregnancy. Ginger, metoclopramide, ondansetron, and pyridoxine were initiated earlier than other treatments, at a median 6 weeks’ gestation for each antiemetic. The latest median time of initiation at 12 weeks’ gestation was reported for corticosteroids.

The shortest durations of use were reported for ginger, metoclopramide, and prochlorperazine, at 2 to 4 weeks, while doxylamine and ondansetron had the longest median durations of 16 and 20 weeks, respectively.

Side effects were reported in 78% of women taking doxylamine, 73% ondansetron, and 72% promethazine. Thirty-one percent taking metoclopramide ceased treatment because of side effects, vs 24% for ginger and 23% for prochlorperazine. Common side effects included constipation, sedation, and mood disorders.

Implications

Over half of respondents taking corticosteroids, ondansetron, and doxylamine reported the medication to be effective. However, under 10% reported efficacy for pyridoxine or ginger. This highlighted a complex landscape of medication use for severe NVP and HG.

“We need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and toward personalized care that recognizes the full impact of HG,” said Caitlin Kay-Smith, study co-author and founder of Hyperemesis Australia.

References

1. Emotional and medical toll of extreme pregnancy nausea, with many women considering ending pregnancies. Flinders University. September 3, 2025. Accessed September 4, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1096797.
2. Wills L, Hsiao H, Thomas A, Kay-Smith C, Henry A, Grzeskowiak LE. Assessing the burden of severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy or hyperemesis gravidarum and the associated use and experiences of medication treatments: An Australian consumer survey. PLOS One. 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0329687

Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs) may initiate and exacerbate the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a new study found.

The findings come as public health officials have raised concerns about the potential health implications of microplastics. The report was published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.¹

While the underlying mechanisms behind the development of IPF are not yet fully understood, previous research has shown that environmental factors, including cigarette smoke and airborne particles, can contribute to the disease’s initiation and development, explained corresponding author Bing Bai, PhD, of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China, and colleagues.²

The potential role of environmental factors is an important research topic, Bai and colleagues said, because the incidence of IPF is rising swiftly. A 2015 study, for instance, found that the global incidence of IPF was rising by approximately 11% per year.³

Bai and colleagues explored the potential role of microplastics in the rising rates of IPF.¹ Defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, microplastics enter the environment via industrial emissions, plastic degradation, and household products. From there, ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact can all lead to the microplastics entering the human body.

PET-MPs are the most common microplastics encountered in daily life, the authors explained, and there are several reasons why they may play a role in lung diseases like IPF.

“PET-MPs can induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and inflammatory responses in pulmonary cells, contributing to chronic lung injury,” the authors wrote, adding that PET-MP particles smaller than 10 μm can penetrate the alveolar barrier and accumulate in lung tissue, leading to a fibrosis-like pathology.

Yet, there is “scarce” research examining potential links between PET-MPs and the onset or exacerbation of IPF, the investigators noted. Bai and colleagues said they suspected that PET-MPs might contribute to IPF by modulating certain key molecular targets and signaling pathways.

To test the hypothesis, the investigators used public databases and a toxicity-prediction tool called ProTox 3.0 to identify potential targets and analyze their potential roles in IPF. They used network toxicology, molecular docking, Mendelian randomization, and single-cell sequencing analysis.

In the end, they identified 3 core targets through which they believe PET-MPs might aggravate IPF: AKT1, PIM1, and PIK3CD. The microplastics appear to affect metabolic, lipid, atherosclerosis, and C-type selection receptor signaling pathways, the authors said. They added that the binding affinity of PET-MPs to these core targets was “potent.”

The lung toxicity of PET-MPs may be associated with the proteins AKT1, PIK3CD, and PIM1, the authors said, and they said AT2 and CD8+ T cells are susceptible to the fibrotic effects induced by PET-MPs.

Bai and colleagues said the data show that prolonged exposure to microplastics is linked with the development of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, and therefore they said it is urgent that regulators adopt better ways to track and restrict microplastics in the environment.

“Furthermore, establishing long-term exposure databases and conducting multi-regional cohort studies will be key to assessing population-level health impacts,” they wrote.

It will also be important to raise public awareness of the dangers of microplastics so that individuals—and their employers—can take steps to mitigate exposure.

The authors cautioned that their work was based on modeling toxicity using publicly available databases, adding that it is very difficult to adequately replicate long-term, low-dose exposure to microplastics. They concluded their hypotheses will require validation through both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

References

1. Zhao W, Yang S, Hu S, Feng Y, Bai B. Polyethylene terephthalate microplastics promote pulmonary fibrosis via AKT1, PIK3CD, and PIM1: A network toxicology and multi-omics analysis. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. Published online August 27, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118954

2. Raghu G, Remy-Jardin M, Richeldi L, et al. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (an update) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis in adults: an official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT clinical practice guideline. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2022;205(9):e18-e47. doi:10.1164/rccm.202202-0399ST

3. Hutchinson J, Fogarty A, Hubbard R, McKeever T. Global incidence and mortality of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a systematic review. Eur Respir J. 2015;46(3):795-806. doi:10.1183/09031936.00185114

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While it will take more work to see this approach leveraged in the clinic, the researchers are excited about the possibilities this breakthrough represents.

“This is a huge step forward for personalized immune cancer therapy,” added Lippman.

Additional coauthors of the study include: Xin Zhao, and Maria Trifas, from New York University Langone Health; William N. William from UC San Diego and Oncoclínicas São Paulo; Bin Liu, PhD, Raymond J. Lim, and Yushen Du from UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and Yu-Jui Ho, Francisco M. Barriga, and Scott W. Lowe from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

This study was funded, in part, by the National Institutes of Health (grants K99 CA266939, R01DE026644, U01CA0290479, P01 CA106451, P50 CA097007, P30 CA023100, R37CA248631, and R01HG012590), the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (grants 5T32CA160001 and David Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Research Pilot Project), the Gerry Metastasis and Tumor Ecosystems Center (GMTEC) (Postdoctoral Fellowship and Classic Individual Funding), the Edward P. Evans Foundation (Young Investigator Award), the Tobacco Related Disease Research Program (grant T30DT0963), the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Geoffrey Beene Chair for Cancer Biology, the Agilent Thought Leader Program, the UCLA Technology Development Group Innovation Fund, the NCI Early Detection Research Network (grant 1U2CCA271898), the Department of Veterans Affairs (grants 1I50CU000157), Cancer Research UK (grant C67321/ A29060), and Stand up to Cancer.

Disclosures: Scott Lowe receives consultant fees and holding equity in Blueprint Medicines, ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Mirimus, PMV Pharmaceuticals, Faeth Therapeutics, Senescea Therapeutics and Constellation Pharmaceuticials. Steven Dubinett receives research funds from Janssen and Novartis, stock options and is on the advisory board of Lung Life AI, Inc. and Early Diagnostics, Inc. Teresa Davoli is a member of the SAB of io9 (now Acurion) and KaryoVerse therapeutics. Scott Lippman has served in an advisory capacity for, and received stock options from Sympto Health, Biological Dynamics; he is a cofounder of io9 LLC (now Acurion, Inc.); and is a co-inventor of IP related to genomic (9p) predictive biomarkers and precision immunotherapy: Title: Methods and Biomarkers in Cancer (inst) to Davoli and Lippman, PCT/U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/483,237; and Title: Artificial Intelligence Architecture for Predicting Cancer Biomarkers (inst) to Lippman and Alexandrov, U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/412,835, U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63/412,835 Title: Genetically-Defined Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitor Resistance in Aggressive Precursors of HPV– Head and Neck Squamous Cancer. All other authors report no disclosures.

Bipasha Basu had once opened up about the emotional rollercoaster she and husband Karan Singh Grover experienced after the birth of their daughter, Devi, in November 2022. Born with a rare heart condition called a ventricular septal defect, Devi underwent life-saving surgery at just three months old.

Learning about Devi’s heart condition

Speaking to Neha Dhupia on Instagram Live in 2023, Bipasha opened up about her challenging journey as a new mother during an Instagram Live with Neha Dhupia. She revealed that she learned on the third day after Devi’s birth that her daughter was born with two holes in her heart. Bipasha described the experience as far tougher than the smile she now wears and said she wouldn’t wish it on any mother. She shared her story to support other mothers, noting how difficult it was to find guidance and support during that time.

Early days were overwhelming

The actress further spoke about Devi’s condition, visibly emotional as she spoke. She admitted that neither she nor Karan fully understood what a ventricular septal defect (VSD) was initially. The early days were overwhelming for the couple, leaving them in a blur. While they wanted to celebrate the birth of their daughter, the reality of her heart condition left them feeling numb and unsure of how to process everything.She also opened up about preparing for Devi’s surgery, revealing that Karan Singh Grover initially struggled to come to terms with it. She shared that the first five months after Devi’s birth were extremely challenging, but praised their daughter’s resilience from day one. Doctors advised monthly scans to monitor if the ventricular septal defect could heal on its own, but given the size of the hole, surgery was deemed inevitable and best performed when Devi was three months old.

Facing the tough decision

Bipasha recalled the third month when they went for Devi’s scan. She shared that she had done extensive research, met surgeons, visited hospitals, and consulted doctors, feeling mentally prepared for the surgery, while Karan was not. She was determined that their daughter would be fine, and thankfully, Devi came through successfully. The most challenging part, she added, was making the decision to operate at the right place and the right time.The actress also revealed to Neha that Devi’s surgery lasted six hours, and admitted she didn’t sleep for 40 days and 40 nights, emphasizing the emotional toll the period took on her.

Some parents avoid giving their kids fruit juice, for fear that it might rot their teeth.

But the bad effects of juice on a child’s oral health could be short-lived, thanks to the remarkable properties of saliva, according to a new study.

Saliva protects teeth and gums from bacteria by creating a slippery film on teeth, and also can help repair early damage to tooth enamel, researchers said.

Sipping some apple juice temporarily disrupts this protection, but the effect begins to wear off within 10 minutes, researchers reported Sept. 3 in the journal PLOS One.

In fact, researchers found that water causes greater initial disruption to saliva’s protective properties, although recovery is much faster.

“We were genuinely surprised by these results,” lead researcher Mahdi Mutahar said in a news release. He’s a senior lecturer in dentistry with the University of Portsmouth’s School of Dental, Health and Care Professions in the United Kingdom.

“It’s long been believed that apple juice, like other acidic drinks, immediately harms our oral health, including the teeth,” he said. “However, our research shows that saliva plays a vital role in protecting and quickly repairing the mouth to prevent lasting damage.”

There’s a “but,” however.

“But it’s important to point out that long-exposure to apple juice — by repeatedly drinking it or not washing your mouth out with water after taking a sip — can have a long-term negative effect on our oral hygiene,” Mutahar added.

For the study, researchers asked 32 healthy college students and staff to rinse their mouths with apple juice for one minute, then repeat the process with tap water.

The team used cutting-edge lab techniques to measure how slippery and protective saliva is before and after drinking both beverages.

Results showed that key proteins found in saliva are affected when a person drinks apple juice, but that mucins — spit’s main lubricating proteins — remain stable.

After one swig of apple juice, lubrication returns to normal as mucins resume their slippery protective work, researchers said.

“The biggest shock though was discovering that rinsing mouths with tap water actually caused more friction and disruption than apple juice,” Mutahar said.

Portsmouth tap water contains high concentrations of sodium, potassium and magnesium, which interfered with mucins, lab tests revealed.

“The Portsmouth water we used contains minerals that seem to interfere with saliva’s lubricating proteins, more than the fruit juice did,” Mutahar said.

These results suggest that drinking fruit juice now and then might not be immediately damaging, thanks to how saliva works.

But chugging fruit juice throughout the day could overwhelm the natural defense provided by saliva, affecting oral health, researchers warned.

“Think of it like a cut on your skin,” Mutahar said. “Your body can heal small, occasional damage quite well, but if you keep reopening the wound, it becomes a problem. The same principle applies here.”

Researchers recommend that children and adults who want to drink some fruit juice should:

Drink the juice quickly, rather than sipping slowly.

Rinse with water immediately afterward, to remove lingering acids and sugars.

Use a straw to reduce contact between the juice and teeth.

Give your mouth time to recover between juice drinks.

The research team is now exploring what happens if people drink juice several times a day. Future research could look at whether adding protective proteins like mucins to everyday drinks could protect people’s teeth and gums.

More information

The University of Pennsylvania has more on juice and tooth health.

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