Food supplementAgaricus bisporus (Champex®) for breath

Champex® is a dietary supplement containing extract of Agaricus bisporus mushroom. Produced entirely in Japan by a consistently-innovative company, it supports immune health, and above all, helps to fight bad breath.

What is halitosis?

Halitosis is the scientific name for bad breath. Though not a disease, it’s a common problem which affects everyone at some point in their life.

There are a number of potential causes but most often, it’s simply the result of a degradation process. Under the influence of various physicochemical factors, oral and gut bacteria convert certain nutrients (mostly peptides or amino acids such as cysteine, methionine and tryptophan) into malodorous compounds called volatile sulphur compounds (VSC).

The microbes most associated with producing bad breath are anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria. Almost 90% of foul-smelling gases are made of hydrogen sulphide (which smells like rotten eggs), but there is also methyl mercaptan or methanethiol (with the smell of putrid cabbage), dimethyl sulphide (decomposing vegetables) and dimethyl disulphide (rancid cabbage) (1).

However, there are other types of bad breath:

• Ozostomia, where the bad breath comes from the upper respiratory tract.
• Stomatodysodia, in which lung problems are the cause.
• Hyperosmia where people have a heightened sense of smell.
• Halitosis caused by a disease, particularly digestive, metabolic (diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver) or kidney problems. Here, the malodorous substances accumulate in the blood and are transported to the lungs and from there, exhaled via the mouth.
• Halitosis caused by a nutritional deficiency (mainly vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin K, iron and zinc).
• Halitosis as a result of diet: caused by eating foods that either directly promote bad breath (garlicky food, radishes, turnips, certain spices, cabbage, cauliflower, certain fish and dairy products, high in sulphur), or temporarily make the mouth dry (coffee, alcohol, for example).

How does Champex® stop bad breath?

Champex® contains amino acids (glutamic acid, alanine, threonine, leucine and serine) crucial for helping to neutralise the intestinal ammonia and sulphur that cause certain types of body odour. In one scientific study (2), taking Champex® for 14 days reduced concentrations of putrid substances by 40% to 60% compared with initial levels.

5 good reasons to take bad breath seriously

1. Bad breath is often considered taboo: it can lead to social isolation (3).
2. The majority of people who have bad breath don’t know it because our olfactory senses get used to our own body smells. Our olfactory receptors become inured to stimulation by the familiar odorous molecules we release in what is termed olfactory fatigue (4).
3. There is no way of preventing the production of the infamous volatile sulphur compounds (VSC). They are released from the gut into the oral cavity or bloodstream.
4. Those over 60 are at particular risk because they often produce less saliva which is important for fighting the bacteria that cause bad breath.
5. Some people’s bodies are just less effective at protecting against the bacteria responsible, their saliva is just not as good at fighting dental plaque. Such individuals therefore need to use additional means to combat it (better oral healthcare, natural solutions, stricter diet …).