Scientists investigate dietary interventions and fasting for gum inflammation

A study has found a link between fasting and gum disease, as eating fewer calories is shown to ease inflammation and boost oral health when following a fasting-mimicking diet for a consecutive period. 

The research from King’s College London, UK, suggests that changing one’s diet alongside keeping good oral hygiene could be beneficial for managing gum disease.

They note that fasting has previously been linked to being anti-inflammatory for other body functions, and now its role in oral health has been explored.

“There may be multiple reasons why fasting is beneficial to gum disease patients. Fasting reduces oxidative stress in the body, a common cause of inflammation, which can damage cells and DNA,” says senior study author Luigi Nibali, professor of periodontology at King’s College London.

He explains that intake of high-calorie foods and refined carbohydrates, such as cakes and biscuits, can also cause inflammation, and restricting these foods can therefore reduce oxidative stress in the body.

“It may also be that fasting has beneficial effects on the microbiome — the body’s community of bacteria that help to keep it healthy. However, further research is needed to confirm this relationship,” says Nibali.

The research team urges further studies as there is potential for fasting diets to be an additional tool for treating gum disease, dental cleaning, and oral hygiene. 

The study found that three cycles of fasting-mimicking diet, in addition to step two treatment, showed a reduction in inflammatory response.Fasting and inflammation

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, involved 27 people with periodontitis — a progressive gum infection that may damage soft tissue and the jawbone supporting the tooth — who completed the treatment and a six-month follow-up.

All participants received periodontal treatment, either step one: initial instructions and cleaning by a professional above the gumline, or step two: deep-cleaning below the gum line. The participants were randomized to either follow their regular diet or complete three supplementary five-day courses of a fasting-mimicking diet.

The researchers collected samples of blood and gingival crevicular fluid to analyze the levels of inflammatory biomarkers. They also looked at the patient-reported outcome measurement and clinical parameters.

The participants kept food diaries, and everyone was followed up at one, seven, 45, 90, and 180 days post-treatment. 

The study found that three cycles of fasting-mimicking diet, in addition to step two (cleaning below the gumline), showed a reduction in inflammatory response. However, the researchers urge caution in interpreting these findings due to the exploratory nature of the study.

Mainas stresses that a fasting diet is not suitable for everyone.Nutrition taps into healthcare

Nutrition is increasingly being explored as a part of healthcare. Nutrition Insight recently spoke with experts from the Physicians Association for Nutrition International, who argued that intertwining nutrition and healthcare might reshape demand for functional ingredients, fortified products, plant-based proteins, and medically tailored foods.

Similarly, medically tailored meals have been explored for people suffering from chronic diseases. Additionally, personalized meals for patients suffering conditions such as diabetes and heart disease experienced significantly fewer health emergencies and lower costs of care than those who did not receive the meals in a recent analysis.

“Our study suggests lifestyle modifications could be important alongside proper tooth brushing for patients,” says Giuseppe Mainas, Ph.D., study first author and researcher at King’s College London. 

Mainas argues that, as this relationship has been established, the research team looks to do a larger study before potentially incorporating the findings into gum disease treatment. Meanwhile, he stresses that a fasting diet is not suitable for everyone.

“There may be patients where restricting foods can be dangerous, such as those with diabetes, so the advice will need to be targeted to specific patient groups. We are currently investigating how we could implement these benefits in high-risk groups who may not be able to fast.”