Miracle Mineral Solution, commonly called MMS, has been promoted for years as a supposed cure for serious conditions such as cancer, autism, and COVID-19. Despite these claims, MMS is simply a marketing name for sodium chlorite (NaClO2), a strong disinfectant used in applications like water treatment. When sodium chlorite is mixed with acid, it produces chlorine dioxide (ClO2), a chemical that can be dangerous when ingested.
Researchers from Wroclaw Medical University set out to examine what happens when this substance is tested under controlled scientific conditions. Their findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports. The team studied acidified sodium chlorite (ASC), which generates ClO2, using two different formulations. One version, ASC1, was acidified with hydrochloric acid, while ASC2 used gluconic acid. Both were tested on multiple types of bacteria, including harmful strains like Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, as well as beneficial probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
Antibacterial Effects Come at a Cost
The researchers confirmed that chlorine dioxide can kill bacteria. However, they found that it only works at concentrations that are also harmful to human cells. At a concentration of 30 ppm (0.003%), bacteria were destroyed, but the tests also showed clear damage to skin cells and high death rates in an in vivo model. The team also examined bacterial biofilms, which are protective layers that make infections harder to treat. While ASC was able to break down these biofilms, it did so while causing damage to surrounding tissue.
“The results of the study indicate that effective concentrations of ASC against biofilms are also toxic to eukaryotic cells, but it cannot be ruled out that a formulation for external use will be developed that ensures the safety of use with high anti-biofilm efficacy,” explains Dr. Ruth Dudek-Wicher from the Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University.
Risks to Beneficial Bacteria and the Gut
Dr. Dudek-Wicher also highlighted an important distinction between professionally produced, purified ClO₂ solutions, which are sometimes used in dentistry, and the mixtures prepared at home by MMS supporters. The study examined how ASC affects probiotic bacteria as well. The biofilm formed by Lactobacillus bacteria proved to be extremely sensitive to the substance, raising concerns about potential harm to the intestinal microflora.
“At the moment, we are not planning such studies, but we do not rule them out in the future. If a safe oral form of ASC is developed, an analysis of its impact on the microbiome will be necessary,” says Dr. Ruth Dudek-Wicher.
Misinformation and Dangerous Beliefs
The researchers made it clear that their work was not limited to laboratory science. They also aimed to address the spread of misinformation surrounding MMS.
“The most harmful mistake is to believe in the effectiveness of MMS without hard scientific evidence,” emphasizes Dr. Dudek-Wicher. “In pharmacy and medicine, the benefit-risk ratio is considered. In the case of MMS, the benefit is zero, and the risk is high, especially since the dosage is often administered using non-standardized droppers, which can achieve 1 ml by applying 15 or 30 drops. Such fluctuations in the oral dosage of a corrosive substance are extremely irresponsible,” she adds.
MMS is sometimes even promoted for use in children and pregnant women. Dr. Dudek-Wicher expressed particular concern about recommendations linking MMS to weight loss. “I was particularly shocked by the recommendations for combating obesity, which did not mention the effect of MMS on adipose tissue but only affirmed self-acceptance combined with stigmatization of obesity,” she says. She argues that the danger lies not only in the substance itself, but also in how it is marketed, using emotional appeals instead of evidence.
Combating Health Myths With Science and Empathy
Can misinformation about MMS be addressed effectively? According to Dr. Dudek-Wicher, the answer is yes, but it requires cooperation across disciplines and a more empathetic approach. “Yes, but it requires an integrated, interdisciplinary approach and empathy. Currently, the fight against myths is too often marked by a lack of respect and compassion. People turn to MMS because they are concerned about their health — and education must take this into account, with communication based on respect.”
She also stresses the importance of funding research that challenges false health claims. Science, she says, has a responsibility to protect the public from misinformation. That is why she welcomed the recognition of her university grant on MMS and the publication of the results in Scientific Reports.
Public Attention and Future Research
The research conducted at the Faculty of Pharmacy has attracted media coverage, including an article and video published on the homepage of the Polish Press Agency. According to the researchers, this interest reflects a broader demand for clear, evidence-based information.
“At the Faculty of Pharmacy, we are not afraid of difficult topics. The safety of patients who have lost their way in search of treatment is of utmost importance to us. And the interest in the results encourages us to continue our work. We are planning a series of analyses and publications on other miracle preparations — DMSO, adaptogens, ‘detoxification’ protocols — all in the spirit of scientific myth-busting,” conclude the authors, Dr. Dudek-Wicher and Prof Adam Junka from the Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Parasitology at Wroclaw Medical University.