A high-fiber, low-fat diet improves periodontal disease markers in high-risk subjects: a pilot study

Nutr Res. 2014 Jun;34(6):491-8. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2014.06.001. Epub 2014 Jun 11.

Abstract

Periodontal disease is related to aging, smoking habits, diabetes mellitus, and systemic inflammation. However, there remains limited evidence about causality from intervention studies. An effective diet for prevention of periodontal disease has not been well established. The current study was an intervention study examining the effects of a high-fiber, low-fat diet on periodontal disease markers in high-risk subjects. Forty-seven volunteers were interviewed for recruitment into the study. Twenty-one volunteers with a body mass index of at least 25.0 kg/m(2) or with impaired glucose tolerance were enrolled in the study. After a 2- to 3-week run-in period, subjects were provided with a test meal consisting of high fiber and low fat (30 kcal/kg of ideal body weight) 3 times a day for 8 weeks and followed by a regular diet for 24 weeks. Four hundred twenty-five teeth from 17 subjects were analyzed. Periodontal disease markers assessed as probing depth (2.28 vs 2.21 vs 2.13 mm; P < .0001), clinical attachment loss (6.11 vs 6.06 vs 5.98 mm; P < .0001), and bleeding on probing (16.2 vs 13.2 vs 14.6 %; P = .005) showed significant reductions after the test-meal period, and these improvements persisted until the follow-up period. Body weight (P < .0001), HbA1c (P < .0001), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = .038) levels showed improvement after the test-meal period; they returned to baseline levels after the follow-up period. In conclusion, treatment with a high-fiber, low-fat diet for 8 weeks effectively improved periodontal disease markers as well as metabolic profiles, at least in part, by effects other than the reduction of total energy intake.

Keywords: Dietary fiber; Glucose tolerance test; Intervention study; Obesity; Periodontal diseases; Prediabetic state.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Diet, Fat-Restricted*
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Energy Intake
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Glucose Intolerance
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Periodontal Diseases / blood*
  • Periodontal Diseases / diet therapy*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Triglycerides / blood
  • Waist Circumference

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Fats
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Insulin
  • Triglycerides
  • C-Reactive Protein