TOPLINE:

Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with healthier periodontal conditions, with 112 of 195 participants showing high adherence. Low Mediterranean diet adherence and increased red meat consumption were independently linked to more severe periodontitis and blood markers of inflammation.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study involving 200 consecutive hospital patients who underwent a full periodontal assessment and blood sampling and completed a food frequency questionnaire, with 195 patients having complete data for analysis.
• Analysis included assessment of Mediterranean diet adherence through food frequency questionnaire responses, along with measurements of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, matrix metalloproteinases-8, and various interleukins (ILs) in blood samples.
• Participants underwent comprehensive periodontal examinations including measurements of probing pocket depth, recession, bleeding on probing, tooth mobility, and furcation involvement at six sites per tooth.
• Blood samples were collected through standard venipuncture techniques, with serum separated and stored at -80 °C for subsequent analysis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and automated immunoassay systems.

TAKEAWAY:

• Low adherence to the Mediterranean diet was independently associated with a more severe periodontitis stage (odds ratio [OR], 2.75; 95% CI, 1.03-7.41; P = .042).
• Periodontal disease severity showed significant association with IL-6 levels after adjusting for confounders, while the association with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was not maintained in multivariate analysis.
• Consumption of plant-derived food groups showed significant inverse relationships with increased levels of indicators of inflammation: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-1 alpha, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17.
• Among 195 participants with complete data, 112 were categorized as having high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, with these individuals exhibiting lower periodontal disease severity and fewer periodontal pockets.

IN PRACTICE:

“This study shows that low adherence to Mediterranean diet and higher red meat consumption may be associated with severity of periodontal disease. Studies with a larger sample size are needed to further clarify the current findings,” wrote the authors of the study.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Giuseppe Mainas, Periodontology Unit, Centre for Host Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, England. It was published online in the Journal of Periodontology.

LIMITATIONS:

According to the authors, the cross-sectional design of the study prevents assessment of causality and allows only for associations to be determined. The relatively small sample size may have resulted in statistical underpower when adjusting for multiple variables. Additionally, while food frequency questionnaires are considered a gold standard for dietary assessment, they may be limited in estimating exact portion sizes and could be subject to recall and social desirability biases.

DISCLOSURES:

The study received partial funding through a pump priming grant from the Faculty of Dental Surgery, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, and the British Society of Periodontology in 2024.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.