August JADA evaluates omega-3 fatty acids’ role in periodontal health

Supplements may help lower oral inflammation

Omega-3 fatty acids may help lower oral and systemic inflammation, potentially contributing to improved periodontal health and reduced cardiovascular risk, according to a study published in the August issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.

The authors of the cover story, “Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Oral and Systemic Inflammation: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease,” performed a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial whose primary outcome — the change in progression of coronary artery plaque — was published previously.

In the trial, 240 people undergoing statin therapy for stable coronary artery disease were randomized into two groups: a test group that received the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid for 30 months and a control group that received no supplements.

Researchers collected gingival crevicular fluid in the maxillary left and right quadrants from 199 of the 240 participants. They then compared oral and systemic inflammatory markers, finding the test group had significantly lower levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß in the left quadrant and a lower systemic neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio than the control group.

“The reduction in [gingival crevicular fluid macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß] and systemic [neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio], a key inflammatory marker associated with cardiovascular outcomes, highlights the potential of [eicosapentaenoic acid] and [docosahexaenoic acid] to reduce oral and systemic inflammation, which, in turn, may lower cardiovascular risk, given the link between periodontal inflammation and systemic cardiovascular health,” the authors said in the study.

They hypothesized that toothbrushing behavior related to handedness may account for the localized anti-inflammatory effect in the left quadrant because right-handed people can better remove plaque on the left side.

“This observation underscores the value of encouraging the use of powered toothbrushes to improve plaque removal and reduce gingival inflammation, particularly when combined with systemic anti-inflammatory strategies,” the authors said.

Other articles in the August issue of JADA discuss stem cell-based therapy for bone regeneration, dental manifestations of rare skeletal disorders and the impact of obesity in periodontal therapy.

Every month, JADA articles are published online at JADA.ADA.org. ADA members can access JADA content with their ADA username and password.