Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Be Effective Treatment For Periodontitis

Dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) like fish oil could provide a way to prevent and treat gum disease by targeting the inflammation rather than the bacterial infection, U.S. researchers have found. A common inflammatory disease in which gum tissue separates from teeth, periodontitis leads to accumulation of bacteria and often bone and tooth loss. Researchers looked at data on more than 9,000 adults who participated in a national health survey between 1999 and 2004. Dietary intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and linolenic acid (LNA) were estimated from interviews and data regarding supplementary use of PUFAs. They found that consumption of DHA and EPA were associated with a decreased prevalence of periodontitis. Linolenic acid (LNA) did not show this association.