Periodontitis: Omega-3 Protects Gums and Reduces Risk by 20%
Periodontitis can be countered by a diet rich in Omega 3. A study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association demonstrated that Omega-3 fatty acids protect gum health by preventing the onset of this infection. The research was conducted at Harvard Medical School in Boston (United States).
According to the authors, the intake of moderate amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Omega-3s found in fatty fish, reduces the frequency of the disorder by 20%.
The researchers explained that a diet-based therapy against periodontitis would represent a safer and more economical alternative compared to current treatments.
Periodontitis Therapy: Omega-3 as an Effective Alternative
Periodontitis is an inflammation caused by the proliferation of bacteria between teeth and gums. It is treated with local application of antibiotics combined with mechanical cleaning.
Researchers emphasize that collected data suggest that a dose of DHA equal to that recommended by the American Heart Association can be just as satisfactory (if not more powerful) in the fight against periodontitis.
According to the authors, the benefits of Omega-3 in the treatment of chronic inflammations suggest their use in preventing other inflammatory diseases.
DHA, the strongest weapon against periodontitis
The research involved analyzing data from over 9,000 adult individuals who, between 1999 and 2004, participated in a US study: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that those who consumed higher amounts of DHA in their diet had a 20% lower incidence of inflammation.
In the case of EPA the reduction was lower but still significant.
Confirmed efficacy
The usefulness of Omega-3 in treating periodontitis is also supported by data previously obtained by researchers at the University of Kentucky in Lexington (United States).
According to this research, published by Molecular Oral Biology, rather low doses of EPA, DHA and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid, the precursor of Omega-3) are sufficient to inhibit the growth of pathogens proliferating in the oral cavity.
Among the microorganisms on which Omega-3s are active:
- Streptococcus mutans
- Candida albicans
- Porphyromonas gingivalis
Omega-3, the answer to a need
Although traditional therapies focus on eliminating bacterial infection in its early stages, experts have recently focused on finding solutions that target the response to infection.
Indeed, the body's reaction to the presence of bacteria appears to play an important role in the progression of periodontitis, which can even lead to the loss of teeth and surrounding bone tissue.
For this reason, the results obtained by Harvard researchers have been well received by the scientific community.
Elizabeth Krall Kaye, a professor at Boston University (Boston, United States), confirmed the validity of the data derived from this study.
According to the expert, the results are even more interesting given that modest amounts of DHA and EPA are sufficient to significantly reduce risks for the gums.
This, explains Kaye, suggests that it may be possible to protect gums simply through the intake of Omega-3s in the diet.
Source
1. Naqvi AZ, Buettner C, Phillips RS, Davis RB, Mukamal KJ, “n-3 fatty acids and periodontitis in US adults”, J Am Diet Assoc. 2010 Nov;110(11):1669-75
2. Huang CB, Ebersole JL, “A novel bioactivity of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their ester derivatives”, Mol Oral Microbiol. 2010 Feb;25(1):75-80
3. Kaye EK, “n-3 fatty acid intake and periodontal disease”, J Am Diet Assoc. 2010 Nov;110(11):1650-2
