No Miracle, Just a Mineral: The Not-So-Magical Antimicrobial World of Chlorine Dioxide

This study evaluates the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy and cytotoxicity of acidified sodium chlorite (ASC), a source of chlorine dioxide. Despite its controversial promotion in alternative medicine as a cure-all solution, known as "Miracle Mineral Solution" (MMS), the data on its factual medicinal activity is very limited. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the activity of ASC against biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Lactobacillus sp. The study also investigated the in vitro cytotoxic effects of ASC towards eukaryotic fibroblasts and in in vivo model of Galleria mellonella larvae. Our findings demonstrate that these concentrations of ASC which can effectively eradicate biofilms, also pose potential health risks due to their in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity. It implies that ASC applied in human can lead to damage to the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. This research contributes to the ongoing debate on the safety and efficacy of chlorine dioxide in clinical applications, highlighting the need for precise dosing to avoid mucosal damage in therapeutic contexts.