Chewing gum to prevent premature births? major trial underway in malawi
NCT ID NCT07424846
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether chewing xylitol gum during pregnancy can reduce the risk of preterm birth and low birthweight. 6,000 pregnant women in Malawi will chew either a high or low dose of xylitol gum or a placebo gum. The goal is to see if improving oral health with xylitol leads to healthier pregnancies and better outcomes for babies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Xylitol chewing gum
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could provide a simple, low-cost way to reduce preterm birth and improve infant health in high-risk populations.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 2/3 trial building on earlier unblinded results. The effect may be smaller than hoped, and results may not apply to other populations.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation Malawi
RECRUITINGLilongwe, Malawi
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