Swiss scientists have found that bad breath caused by a certain bacterium can increase the risk of heart disease. The findings of the study are published in the journal eLife.

Previous work has shown that heart disease, such as coronary artery disease, has many risk factors, for example, certain disorders have been associated with an increased likelihood of plaque formation.

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In the new study, scientists analyzed the genetic information, which includes health data and blood samples from 3,459 people. Approximately six percent of participants experienced a heart attack or other life-threatening cardiovascular disease during the 12-year follow-up period. The subjects' blood was tested for antibodies against 15 viruses, six bacteria and one parasite.

The scientists found that antibodies against Fusobacterium nucleatum, a sign of a past or current bacterial infection, were associated with a slightly increased risk of cardiovascular events. When infected with Fusobacterium nucleatum, it causes inflammation of the gums and bad breath. The authors explain this effect by increasing systemic inflammation as a result of infection with a bacterium that can colonize both in the mouth and on the walls of the arteries.

If the finding is confirmed in future studies, scientists could develop new approaches to identify a group of individuals particularly at risk for cardiovascular disease.