Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Green tea catechin helps reduce gum disease and bad breath in cats
By Ohira, Chiharu et al.·Published in International immunopharmacology·2025·School of Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Oral treatment with catechin isolated from Japanese green tea significantly inhibits the growth of periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gulae and ameliorates the gingivitis and halitosis caused by periodontal disease in cats and dogs.
Plain-English summary
A study found that a special ingredient from green tea called catechin can help reduce bad breath and gum disease in cats and dogs. Periodontal disease, which affects many pets by age one, is caused by bacteria that lead to gingivitis and halitosis. When pets were given wet food containing catechin for about a month, their bad breath improved and the harmful bacteria were less active. However, it didn't significantly change the amount of dental plaque or gingivitis. This suggests that catechin could be a helpful addition to your pet's dental care routine.
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Abstract
It has been postulated that 90 % of cats and dogs develop periodontal disease by 1 year of age. Periodontal disease develops because of infection by multiple bacteria, including Porphyromonas gulae (P. gulae) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), resulting in severe gingivitis, halitosis, and bone lysis. Because periodontal disease is an irreversible disorder, preventive dentistry in veterinary medicine has become pertinent. This study examined the efficacy of catechin isolated from green tea by focusing on its bactericidal effects against P. gulae and P. gingivalis, inhibition of inflammation, and reduction in halitosis in dogs and cats with periodontal disease. The viability of P. gulae and P. gingivalis was significantly inhibited by catechin in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. P. gulae- and P. gingivalis-associated biofilm formation was also significantly suppressed by catechin, but the effect was not as drastic as the bactericidal effect. Hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan generated by P. gulae and P. gingivalis were significantly decreased by catechin, even after a short exposure. Pro-inflammatory cytokine production and phosphorylation of P-38 and JNK induced by P. gulae were inhibited by catechin treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 0.01892 % catechin-contained wet food for 1 month (30-35 days) significantly ameliorated halitosis and P. gulae activity, but had no impact on dental plaque and gingivitis. Our findings indicate that oral treatment with catechin can prevent periodontal diseases in both dogs and cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39693953/