Can strawberry gummies fight gum disease and oral cancer?
NCT ID NCT01514552
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase study tests whether strawberry gummies can improve oral health in 36 adults, including smokers and non-smokers. Participants eat two types of gummies (real strawberry or placebo) four times daily for a week. Researchers measure how the body absorbs strawberry compounds and look for changes in inflammation and gene activity in the mouth and blood.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- strawberry gummy
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a simple dietary supplement to support oral health and reduce inflammation.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small pilot study (36 people) focused on safety and absorption, not on proving any health benefit. The results may not lead to any practical treatment.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
-
About 36 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Start date
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Nov 2010
- Expected to finish
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Apr 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Submit to a 24 hour urine cotinine test which will be used to determine smoking status. * Meet one of the following smoking criteria Non-smoker * Does not currently smoke or has no history of smoking or using tobacco related products (cigarettes, cigars, pipe, snuff, or chewing tobacco) or smoking any non-tobacco related products and urine cotinine (less than 100 ng/mL * Does not currently smoke but has quit smoking for more than 10 years and smoked less than 1 pack/day of cigarettes when they were actively smoking and has a urine cotinine (less than 100 ng/mL). Smoker * Smokes habitually at least 10 cigarettes/day and a urine cotinine level of \>1000 ng/mL. Cigar and pipe smokers who smoke at least 10 grams of tobacco daily are also eligible. * Agree to consume a standardized vitamin and mineral supplement and avoid other nutritional, dietary, or alternative medications/supplements for the duration of the study. * No history of malabsorptive, gastrointestinal or other metabolic disorders requiring special diet recommendations. * Body mass index (BMI) between 20 and 35 kg/m2 * Abstain from purple and red colored foods and beverages which contain significant anthocyanins and polyphenols * Abstain from the use of ANY mouth washes (commercial or home remedies)during 6 week study period Exclusion Criteria * Have a known allergy to strawberries, corn, and wheat products or those who have never consumed any of these products. * Have active metabolic or digestive illnesses such as malabsorptive disorders (Crohn's, ileus, IBS), renal insufficiency, hepatic insufficiency, hyper- or hypothyroidism, cachexia, morbid obesity, or short bowel syndrome. * Have a history of pituitary hormone diseases that currently require supplemental hormonal administration (thyroid hormones, ACTH, growth hormone, insulin) or other endocrine disorders requiring hormone administration. * Have significant loss of gastrointestinal organs due to surgery, except for appendix. * Have altered immunity such as chronic inflammatory disease, autoimmune disorders, cancer, anemia, hemophilia, and blood dyscrasias. * Heavy alcohol consumers defined as \>15 glasses/week (one glass = 1.5 oz. liquor, 5 oz. wine, or 12 oz. beer). * Antibiotic use in the last 6 months or on medications that will accelerate or decrease bowel motility. * Are receiving or in need of dental treatment during the study period. * Have noticeable open lesions, sores that have not healed for more than 3 months, have had any active oral lesions or maladies within the last month, or have a history of leukoplakia, tumors of the buccal cavity, throat, and lips. * Have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), pain with swallowing (odynophagia), salivary gland dysfunction, or xerostomia (dry mouth). * A "non-smoker" who is currently or has a history (less than 10 years of smoking abstinence) of either tobacco or non-tobacco related smoking. * Women, who are planning to conceive in the next 6 months, suspect they are pregnant, pregnant, or nursing. * Are taking medications that inhibit clotting (warfarin sodium) or using prescribed oral rinses (Peridex).
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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
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The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio, 43220, United States
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