n-3 Fatty Acids and Periodontitis in US Adults

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2010-11, Vol.110 (11), p.1669-1675
• Main Authors: Naqvi, Asghar Z., MD, MPH, MNS, Buettner, Catherine, MD, MPH, Phillips, Russell S., MD, Davis, Roger B., ScD, Mukamal, Kenneth J., MD, MPH, MA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha-Linolenic Acid - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Dental research; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Docosahexaenoic Acids - administration & dosage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - administration & dosage; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Non tumoral diseases; Nutrition Surveys; Odds Ratio; Odontology; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Periodontitis - epidemiology; Periodontitis - prevention & control; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; Socioeconomic Factors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 2212-2672; 1878-3570; 2212-2680
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2010.08.009

Abstract Background Periodontitis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease. Although n-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, it is unclear whether n-3 fatty acids can treat or prevent periodontitis. Method We studied 9,182 adults aged 20 years and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2004. Periodontitis was assessed by dental exam and was defined as >4 mm pocket depth and >3 mm attachment loss in any one tooth. Intake of n-3 fatty acids was assessed by 24-hour dietary recall. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate the associations between periodontitis and intakes of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and linolenic acid (LNA). Results The weighted prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI) of periodontitis was 8.2% (95% CI 7.0 to 9.4). Compared with the lowest tertiles, the adjusted odds ratios for periodontitis associated with the highest tertiles of dietary n-3 intake were 0.78 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.00; P =0.009) for DHA, 0.85 (95% CI 0.67 to 1.08; P =0.10) for EPA, and 0.86 (95% CI 0.60 to 1.23; P =0.28) for LNA. The associations were little changed by multivariable adjustment or exclusion of individuals reporting use of dietary supplements containing DHA, EPA, or LNA. Conclusions In this nationally representative sample, higher dietary intakes of DHA and, to a lesser degree, EPA, were associated with lower prevalence of periodontitis. Interventional studies are needed to confirm the potential protective effects of n-3 fatty acids on periodontitis.